Leadership challenge at Luton council 'not what residents voted for' says Labour
A challenge to the Labour leadership of Luton Borough Council “isn’t what residents voted for”, the party has warned, after councillor defections left its ruling group in the town vulnerable.
It accused opposition members of teaming up with “right-wing” councillors, including Reform UK, which the Liberal Democrats have denied is the case.
An attempt to destabilise the Labour ruling administration and remove its leader and Biscot councillor Tahmina Saleem was accomplished at an extraordinary meeting of the local authority, last night (Thursday).
A without-notice motion was served by the Lib Dems and succeeded by a three-vote margin as an effective vote of no confidence in councillor Saleem.
The leadership challenge resumes at another full council meeting set for Monday, September 14, with the agenda stating two items: to pass a resolution to remove the executive leader from office and then elect a replacement.
The local democracy reporting service can reveal that the coalition of opposition councillors are due to nominate Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor Amjid Ali as their choice of council leader, at the next extraordinary full council.
The Luton Labour Group said in a statement: "At last night’s full council, the coalition of Liberal Democrats, the Independent Alliance, the Conservatives and Reform decided to table a vote of no confidence in the Labour administration.
"Eight councillors who were elected as Labour members decided to defect and join the Independent Alliance, without any mandate from their electorate to do so.
"Despite promising to continue to work with the Labour administration to which they were elected, these councillors have decided to team up now with the Liberal Democrats and right-wing political parties, including the Conservatives and Reform.
"They risk derailing the progress Luton is making in doing so, and handing power back to the parties who were responsible for years of national austerity.
"While others play politics and put personal ambition before Luton, Labour will remain focused on what matters. That means delivering for our residents, as well as standing up for and building a fairer, stronger Luton."
Responding to the vote of no confidence, councillor Saleem, said: “This is not what residents voted for.
“Luton deserves better. Luton elected a Labour council, not chaos and individual egos. Instead of playing self-serving games, these councillors should resign their seats and let their residents decide who represents them.
“The general public won’t look kindly to anyone cosying up to the Conservatives, who took more than £160m from Luton during a decade of austerity.
“I fully intend to challenge this vote of no confidence. Whatever games others choose to play, my focus remains exactly where it has always been: delivering for Luton and standing up for our residents.”
Councillor Ali told the local democratic reporting service that Reform UK’s only councillor on LBC, James Fletcher, has no part in the coalition.
Speaking after last night’s meeting, councillor Ali said: “The reason the opposition has come together is to nominate myself as the opposition leader to then take on the leadership role.
“It’s a sensible and a neutral thing to do, rather than putting anyone else in. Technically it would be a minority Lib Dem administration, supported by the Independent Alliance Group or coalition.”
Asked if he expected that to be the most likely outcome from the next full council meeting, he replied: “Yes, we believe so. It reassured me today we’ve got the numbers.”
LBC now has 21 Labour councillors, 13 Liberal Democrats, seven representing the Independent Alliance Group, three Conservatives, three non-aligned Independents, and one Reform UK councillor.