From the Ham & High:
The Labour group were without a leader on the council after Claire Kober’s resignation in February... Cllr Joseph Ejiofor is the new leader of Haringey Council, after two rounds of voting by Labour councillors last night.
However the councillors’ choice goes against the result of an indicative vote by members on Monday night. Constituency Labour Party representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of Cllr Ejiofor’s colleague, Zena Brabazon, who represents Harringay. When members were consulted after the hustings on Monday, Cllr Brabazon got more than the other four candidates put together.
Yet when the decision was put to councillors last night, Cllr Brabazon was eliminated from voting early on. This left a run-off between Cllr Peray Ahmet, who resigned from Claire Kober’s cabinet in January, and Cllr Ejiofor. The new leader is a member of Momentum’s national co-ordinating group. Cllr Emine Ibrahim was voted to be his deputy.
Cllr Ejiofor said: “I am proud and humbled to have been elected as leader. The Labour Group is united in its determination to serve all the residents of Haringey fairly; to manage the severe impact of Tory government cuts and create the social housing, safer communities and opportunities for residents that we desperately need.
“We are confident in the direction we want local government to move in the borough. We plan to build our own housing on our own land; invest in youth services, look to stimulate the local economy and begin the process of insourcing.
“We are excited at the prospect of creating a new model for local government that will include genuine consultation and engagement with our residents.”
Replies