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Cllr Meral Ece |
Colleague’s lateness costs Lib Dem his chairmanship
SHE was only three minutes late for a meeting – but Lib Dem councillor Meral Ece’s tardiness proved costly this week.
Labour’s plotting and scheming reached new heights on Monday when Councillor Ece turned up late to a meeting of the east area committee costing her colleague Rhodri Jamieson-Ball his position as chairman.
This is the latest in a string of upsets for the Lib Dems, who have in the past week lost control of the Town Hall’s overview committee, a third planning committee and key positions on Islington Strategic Partnership, Cripplegate Foundation and the Angel Town Centre Forum.
Monday’s east area committee wasn’t just any old gathering, it was the annual meeting where appointments are made and chairmen appointed. When Labour councillor Phil Kelly saw Cllr Ece had not yet arrived, he realised his party were in a position of strength.
He called across the table to Green councillor Katie Dawson and asked if she wanted to take over the job as chairwoman.
Cllr Dawson said yes, a vote was taken, Labour backed Cllr Dawson and Cllr Jamieson-Ball was ousted.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy, who attended the meeting, said: “They say a week is a long time in politics. Sometimes three minutes can be. I’m sure Cllr Dawson will be an excellent chair.”
Cllr Ece said: “I was coming back from Westminster where the Tamil demonstrations had completely shut off traffic. They knew I was on my way. I did my best to get there and they took advantage of me being late.”
Cllr Kelly said: “It was very surprising to us. Meral was late and we realised there were five of us and five of them. It’s the most important meeting of the year. To turn up late is either carelessness or Meral’s getting increasingly detached from the Lib Dems.”
Labour’s ability to take advantage of any Lib Dem absences, combined with deals they have struck with rebel Lib Dem Cllr Andrew Cornwell and Green Cllr Dawson, has resulted in the ruling party losing control of their budget and key positions on certain committees. |
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