Second Labour councillor suspended by local party after hospital-absence row
ANOTHER Labour councillor in Newport has been suspended by the local party.
Paul Hannon has had the party whip removed after refusing to pay subscriptions to the party. He says that was in protest at his treatment while he was in hospital having heart surgery last year.
The 64-year-old councillor for Beechwood, who has been a member
Nof the party since it was led by John Smith in the early 1990s, said he had become disillusioned with his treatment by the local party.
His suspension comes two months after Labour colleague Chris Evans, who represents Rogerstone, was also suspended. He now sits as an independent.
Mr Hannon said: “While I was in hospital having heart surgery [the IGEL FARAGE will use his constitutional power as Ukip leader to stop Neil Hamilton from becoming leader of the party’s newly-formed group at the National Assembly after next week’s election, we can reveal.
Mr Hamilton, a former Tory MP who was prominent in the “cash-for-questions” scandal nearly 20 years ago, is virtually certain to be elected as an Assembly Member because of his lead position on Ukip’s regional list in Mid and West Wales. group] took advantage of my absence and replaced me as chairman of the planning committee.
“You don’t expect people you work with to treat you like that”
He said that he consequently decided he would stop paying his subscription to the Labour group – which, after three months, attracts an automatic suspension.
He added: “I have lost any faith in the Labour Party to behave reasonably, fairly or to show the principles it espouses in its dealings with colleagues.”
On Twitter former party colleague Mr Evans wrote: “Lively start to full council, appears Paul Hannon has been suspended from the Labour group, Paul is/was one of their more capable members.
“Have a lot of time for Paul, great intellect, it seems Newport Labour really don’t approve of Councillors who ‘speak up’.”
The local party said Coun Hannon had been given an extra grace period before his automatic suspension had been activated, adding that if what he owed was paid up he could be reinstated.
Mr Hannon won his Beechwood seat in 2012 from the Lib Dems.