Extraordinary Scenes in Sefton.March of the Independents.Call for a more tolerant political culture

Extraordinary scenes took place at Sefton Council at its last meeting prior to the election with the emergence of a new “Community Independent “ group composed of four former and previously loyal Labour councillors mostly from the Maghull Wards led by Cllr.Andrew Wilson from Park Ward (1) and including Cllr. McKinley and councillors Yvonne and John Sayers

This followed the previous resignation of Molyneux Councillor ,Tony Carr from the Labour group.

In what proved an uncomfortable night, the Labour party leadership was criticised by members of the new group for its neglect of their area. In the same meeting deselected and suspended Kew Councillor, Janis Blackburne, was praised by Labour members.

Cllr. Wilson though described her treatment by his former party as a “disgrace”. 

This parallels events in Liverpool where a similar breakaway group was founded.This election in Bootle too an independent group led by former Labour councillor, John Rice is fielding former Labour members as candidates against sitting Labour councillors.

Cllr John Pugh, Liberal Democrat leader said, “Politicians will always fall out ,but what we are seeing across Merseyside is the march of the independents and the result of over-authoritarian and over-centralised party leadership. When party discipline is prized above everything and power in the hands of the few, good councillors can feel stifled and unable to speak out for their area.

We need a more tolerant and open political culture in Sefton and across Merseyside. 

There is no need for people with similar values to become bitter enemies, but that is what the current system leads to.The public actually want independently minded councillors, but a system that turns the average councillor into voting fodder for party machines works against that. A return to a proper system of decision-making committees would be preferable.   "