Thirty-three years a councillor, Ken King quit the Labour group alongside former group leader David Scott.
This means that, even before next week’s by-election on Westfield Ward, Labour have lost their majority on York Council. They now have only 21 of the 47 councillors.
The Conservative group leader, Cllr Chris Steward, is calling for changes to the key council committees to reflect the new make-up.
He submitted a request to the Lord Mayor for a special full council meeting “which will address Labour’s over-representation on key committees like the Local Plan Working Group, Corporate and Scrutiny Management and the Planning Committees”.
Labour has used called proportionality rules to retain a majority on all committees and “then used this to steamroller through all of their policies”, Cllr Steward said.
“The people of York have had enough of this Labour administration and in particular the fact a small group of their councillors are dictating everything in this city,” he said.
“This change to committees will see a much fairer representation for opposition councillors – who are actually now the majority.”
A spokesperson for the Labour group said: “Of course the proportionalities of all committees need changing to reflect the new political makeup of the council.
“A council committee with all political group leaders represented was already scheduled for this purpose following the by-election. This was with the agreement of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat group leaders.”
Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of James Alexander and his ‘corrupt’ (Coun David Scott’s description in his council speech/statement) Labour administration.
How many others will finish what Coun’s Watson, Douglas, Scott and King started?
Out of family loyalty, maybe Julie Gunnell will join her old Dad next?
Soon it will be only the triumvirate, plus JA’s Uni pals and the other Labour sheep who will go down with the sinking Labour ship – Alexander is at last sinking, after treading water for too long!
The council meeting was the most telling example of just what an obnoxious school playground bully James Alexander is.
It could have been a line from a carry on film……”Infamy infamy they’ve all got it in for me”
Just because I beat him in the leadership election !!!!!
You truly are a sad individual JA. Please go and leave York as well if you wouldn’t mind.
Okay, Conservatives. Now’s your opportunity. No funny stuff! We’re watching and we’re not amused.
As for Labour: I always figured I’d vote labour but now I am feeling GREEN.
At last there is a chance to bring back some decency into local politics. God knows that has been lacking since Alexander and his gang of left wing looneys took over. Hallelujah.