| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Brentford to Grow by MORE than Fifty Percent? | |
| Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
| Date/Time: | 15/04/13 01:13:00 |
| "Our Hounslow mayor is a political appointment I think although I believe many years ago it wasn't. Who changed it and when, anyone know?" Jennifer The role of Hounslow's Mayor is supposed to be ceremonial, although appointments are currently made on the basis of political allegiance. Labour administrations in Hounslow have always appointed Labour mayors, a process opposed by other political groups past and present on the local authority. When the coalition administration took over in 2006 this was changed, and it was decided that the mayoralty would be shared out amongst the political groups. During the four years that followed that election there were two Conservative mayors, one Liberal Democrat and one independent. Had the coalition been re-elected it was the intention that during the 2010-2014 term there would have been at least one Labour mayor. A dedicated cross-party panel was set up to determine the mechanics of this whole process and Labour even had the bloody nerve to participate in it (Ruth Cadbury sat on it, straight faced, and took part in several meetings). Then, when Labour won the local elections in 2010, the old Labour-only policy was re-adopted! Quite apart from the obvious cronyism for which local Labour has long been famous, this approach suggests a belief on their part that only Labour councillors are "real" councillors capable of performing this task in spite of its non-political character. |