Rebel Sheriff says she would risk jail ‘in a heartbeat’ to save city from cuts
THE rebel Sheriff of Nottingham who voted against sweeping city council cuts says she would do it again “in a heartbeat” – even if it meant serving prison time.
Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos went against Government instructions to oppose the budget plans at a meeting on March 4.
The Labour Party, which controls the council, suspended her the following day, stating the council had a “duty to set a legal and balanced budget”.
Care homes, parks, lunch clubs and libraries are set to close as part of plans to help fill a £50m financial black hole.
Councillor Quddoos, who continues as Sheriff and represents the Berridge ward, said she was not surprised by the decision and labelled herself “a little bit of a radical”.
Speaking at an International Women’s Day event on Friday, she said: “[The council] is at the crossroads of so many crises. We have a housing crisis, a crisis in social care, cost-of-living crisis and crisis in local democracy.
“We have commissioners coming in saying ‘we make the decisions’ and the Labour Party whipping councillors in a certain way. My political compass on every decision I make is how does this benefit or how does this harm the people I represent.
“In politics and local democracy, there’s a structure, there’s a hierarchy and a way of doing things. I guess I’m a little bit of a radical.”
Referring to the Poplar Rates Rebellion of 1921, in which 30 London councillors served six weeks in prison after refusing to raise taxes, the Sheriff said she was willing to suffer the same fate.
“I’d have done it in a heartbeat. I love this city and I want to fight for them,” she said.
“I’d serve longer – there’s always a price to pay when you make a decision that doesn’t fit with the status quo. Two thousand of their residents marched and, on their release, within weeks the law was changed.
“I would rather break the law than pass on these cuts to our poorest and most vulnerable residents.”
She admitted she was unsure about her future in the Labour Party, saying an email from its national headquarters told her she was suspended “pending investigation”.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve had lots of really positive messages from people which has been really heartening.”