Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Labour stalwarts face 2017 election blow
Trio not put forward after initial vetting procedure
Three sitting councillors in Monklands wards are among six North Lanarkshire Labour members reported not to have been put forward from “initial vetting procedures” to defend their seats in next year’s local government election.
Coatbridge South members Jim Brooks and John Higgins, and Airdrie member Peter Sullivan are among those understood not to have been deemed eligible for May’s candidate lists at this stage, following interviews with local party members.
Labour officials insist that the selection process is not yet complete and that an appeals procedure is open to anyone who wishes to challenge non-inclusion at this stage, in order to be added to longlists from which each of North Lanarkshire’s 21 wards will later choose its individual candidates.
Airdrie Central representative Councillor Sullivan told the Advertiser: “I’m disappointed; I’ll be appealing and we’ll take it from there.” Councillor Higgins also confirmed yesterday that he intends to appeal.
Prospective council candidates have been interviewed by North Lanarkshire party members on its local campaign forum about issues including policy, councils’ financial challenges and local campaigning.
Those approved at this stage, known as a vetting process, become eligible to stand as candidates; while all have a right to appeal to the party’s Scottish Executive committee for inclusion in the final lists. It is the first time the process has been used across Scotland for sitting councillors.
A party statement on the issue read: “Next May, Labour will put forward the strongest possible group of candidates who will stand up for their communities against cuts from the SNP government in Edinburgh.
“North Lanarkshire Labour is ambitious for the future of our community with a plan to build 1800 homes over 10 years.”
Council leader Jim Logue said: “Members from all constituency parties in North Lanarkshire send delegates along to the forum – no councillor sits on the voting panel or has any influence.
“The decision is made by ordinary party members and it’s about having a clear, wellestablished set of criteria for the forum.
“Anyone who feels aggrieved can make representations to the Scottish Executive through the appeals process, quite rightly.
“In the past, councillors had an automatic right to be candidates at the next election, but this has made the process more robust.
“The forum interviewed candidates, not only councillors but those aspiring; there’s an opportunity for new candidates to bring their own views and perspectives, which is very encouraging.”
Also understood to be affected following the initial vetting process are current Wishaw councillor Frank McKay, John McLaren of Strathkelvin and Bob Chadda of Cumbernauld.
Councillor Logue told the Advertiser it was a “wrongful presumption” that all those who had not immediately passed the vetting procedure are opponents of his leadership, saying he was not involved in the decision process and adding: “It’s nothing to do with relationships or likes and dislikes.
Reports had claimed that excouncil leader Jim McCabe and former provost Tom Curley had failed to successfully negotiate initial vetting; but both were among a group of members who did not participate as they had already indicated an intention to stand down as councillors.
Long-serving Airdrie South councillor Curley yesterday confirmed he had not undertaken the interview process, but told the Advertiser that the reported suggestion that he would not in any case have been chosen as a candidate has led him to decide to contest the election after all, as an independent.
Councillor Curley yesterday told the Advertiser: “I’d never put my name forward to be interviewed; so to see it being stated that I wouldn’t have been selected is the final straw and very hurtful.
“I wasn’t intending to stand but now I’m planning to do so at the election as an independent in Airdrie South.”
I’m disappointed; I’ll be appealing the decision and we’ll take it from there