By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham City Council’s opposition group forced a symbolic vote on the choice of a new council leader after saying local Labour members had been “usurped” by the national Labour Party during the appointment of Neghat Khan.
Labour’s Cllr Khan was formally appointed as leader, taking over from her predecessor Cllr David Mellen, during a Full Council meeting on Monday, May 20.
However, her formal appointment did not take place before a symbolic challenge from the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group.
The group, headed by Cllr Kevin Clarke, put forward Cllr Andrew Rule to stand as leader and they gave the chamber the opportunity of a vote.
The challenge came after the Labour Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) stepped in to oversee the election of a new council leader.
The NEC interviewed potential candidates but only selected Cllr Khan as a suitable candidate, leaving Nottingham Labour members with no choice.
During Full Council, Cllr Clarke described the process as “a true example of a dictatorship”.
“Oh the irony of it all,” he said.
“After contributions protesting about the undemocratic nature of commissioners being appointed, this controlling Labour group has now had their ability to choose their own leader, deputy leader, party chair and party treasurer, usurped from them by their own national executive.
“One can only speculate what, or possibly who, caused them such concern.
“It is worth emphasising the national executive are completely unelected by the residents of Nottingham, despite the intervention of the running of it.
“If gossip and rumours are to be believed, they have caused much unrest in the Labour Group opposite.
“In nominating Cllr Rule today as leader of the council, I believe it is time to move away from having leadership of the council tainted by association with Robin Hood Energy – and past mistakes have been taken on to where we are today; a broken city that cannot provide basic services to taxpaying residents.
“Instead the council should opt for a leader who outlined the risks of Robin Hood Energy from day one.
“In Cllr Rule we have a wealth of experience in accounting and law. A man who is known and respected by both sides of the chamber as a man of honesty and integrity, always giving a valid point of view.
“In proposing Cllr Rule as leader I am standing for the principles of democracy today, and giving you in the group opposite a chance to vote on the leader of the council which goes beyond politics, something that would appear faceless bureaucrats in this Labour Party’s national executive committee did not trust them to do.”
Responding, Nottingham Labour’s new chair, Cllr Mike Edwards, said Cllr Rule had before represented the Conservative Party in the city and “was an advocate for austerity”.
“How grateful are we to be offered a choice? A councillor who, in a leading role in the opposition group, has failed for two years on the trot to even move an amendment of the budget,” he added.
During the meeting former leader Cllr Mellen also said the criticism of Cllr Khan’s role in Robin Hood Energy was unfounded.
He said he appointed her as chairwoman in 2019 when it was becoming clear the company was coming to an end.
When put to a vote, Cllr Kevin Clarke, Cllr Andrew Rule and Cllr Kirsty Jones, all of the opposition group, voted for Cllr Rule to become leader.
All other members voted for Cllr Khan and she was formally appointed leader alongside her deputy, Cllr Ethan Radford.
Cllr Linda Woodings became Executive Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Cheryl Barnard became Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, Cllr Jay Hayes remains Executive Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Corall Jenkins was appointed Executive Member for Communities, Waste and Equalities, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis is now Executive Member for Adults Social Care and Health and Councillor Cllr Sam Lux has become Executive Member for Carbon Reduction, Leisure and Culture.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Rule said: “We always knew it would go that way, but you never know.
“We gave them the opportunity.”
