Council leader challenge could end 20-year Labour administration in Luton at tonight's meeting

A challenge to the party’s ruling group on the local authority is due to be debated and voted on at an extraordinary full council meeting in the town hall.

The council chamber hosted an emotionally charged executive committee meeting a week ago, when Labour Biscot councillor and council leader Tahmina Saleem thanked her colleagues for their support since May.

Councillor Saleem was chosen to replace long-serving Labour group leader and Lewsey councillor Hazel Simmons, only a year from the 2027 elections for the whole of the unitary authority.

A decision to replace councillor Simmons is considered one of the reasons for a breakaway initially by six Labour councillors to form the new Independent Alliance Group on the borough council.

It left the Luton Labour Group in minority control of the local authority, paving the way for the leadership challenge tonight. The purpose of the meeting is to pass a resolution to remove the executive leader from office, according to the agenda.

Another member of the council would then be elected to become the new executive leader. Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor Amjid Ali is expected to be nominated by the opposition coalition.

Ex-Labour Challney councillor Khtija Malik switched from a non-aligned Independent to join the other six members of the Alliance Group, and former Labour Saints councillor Saima Hussain has become a non-aligned Independent.

It leaves Labour with 21 councillors, while the Lib Dems have 13. With the support of the Independent Alliance Group and councillor Hussain, the vote would be even.

The outcome would be decided by the voting intentions of two other non-aligned Independents, including former Lib Dem group leader and Barnfield councillor David Franks, three Conservative councillors and a Reform UK member.

A without notice motion at another extraordinary full council meeting, earlier this month, has led to the proceedings scheduled for later today. The opposition coalition was successful on that occasion by 24 votes to 21.

Speaking after that meeting, councillor Ali told the local democracy reporting service: “In terms of Labour itself, we didn’t feel it was being democratic because it’s primarily being led by the party’s (regional) headquarters.

“They (Luton group) have been unable to choose their own candidates for their councillors and who goes on to the executive,” he said. “Even the leadership election now was predominantly done by the regional party.

“The people who came out were discomforted by that. As far as I’m aware, this is currently untested waters as we haven’t been in this situation in Luton.”

If successful with the leadership challenge, councillor Ali confirmed it would be a minority Liberal Democrat administration supported by the Independent Alliance Group coalition.

Were the vote to be tied, a casting vote could fall to the town mayor and Independent Alliance Group Beech Hill councillor Javed Hussain.

Labour has been running the administration on the borough council since 2007, taking over from a Lib Dem alliance. Councillor Ali added: “If we remain as the opposition and can’t get the vote through, we’ll continue our work to press for a cleaner, greener, safer and transparent council.”

Asked recently about its relationship with Luton Labour Group, a Labour East spokesman said: “While the Labour Party doesn’t comment on internal processes, we can confirm that there was a National Executive Committee (NEC)-led process earlier this year that was conducted in line with Labour Party policies and procedures.”