Greenwich Council has two more independent councillors until the next local elections in May
Two Labour councillors in Greenwich have resigned from the party to sit on the council as independents after reportedly being deselected.
Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins, representing Abbey Wood, and Cllr Lakshan Saldin, representing Charlton Hornfair, both resigned from Labour earlier this month to stand as independents after neither were chosen to represent the party in the upcoming May local elections, according to them.
Cllr Cousins accused Greenwich Council Leader Anthony Okereke of having an “autocratic leadership style”, saying “it is a relief” to leave Labour and that there was a “lack of comradeship” in the Greenwich Labour Group.
However a spokesperson for Greenwich Labour said Cllr Okereke’s leadership had helped the council build “a strong record of delivering affordable housing, regenerating Woolwich town centre, and moving families on the borough’s housing waiting list into permanent homes”.
Cllr Cousins, a former Cabinet Member who was sacked last November after not attending a council meeting about budget cuts, felt her views were not heard or respected by others within the party.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Once a decision is made, whether you think it is genuinely made or not, there is a collective agreement because you have now got to support that thing and make it look like we had a debate on it and that’s the decision, but everything is a foregone conclusion.
“If I ask a question such as ‘what are we trying to achieve here?’ That is seen as a challenge. You’re literally chained to your seat. Your lips are chained.”
Cllr Cousins defended her decision to not attend a council meeting last November which led to her being relieved of her position as Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities. She was set to attend a meeting with community representatives from Greenwich Giving at the time the council meeting about budget cuts was scheduled, and she felt she was of more use to residents at that meeting instead. Cllr Cousins added: “To this day I believe I made the right decision.”
Cllr Cousins claimed she has received lots of support from Abbey Wood residents since becoming an independent councillor, and she was keen to represent them as an independent going forward. She said: “I think this way, people will see that I am prepared to stand up for what’s right.
“It makes no difference to me being an independent in terms of what I’m able to do because I’ll still be able to represent my constituents and I’ll still be able to talk up for people who feel that they need that type of support. It just means that I have no say in the political direction of the council.”
A spokesperson for Greenwich Labour praised the work Cllr Okereke had done as leader of the council. They said: “Under Cllr Anthony Okereke’s leadership, Greenwich Council has a strong record of delivering affordable housing, regenerating Woolwich town centre, and moving families on the borough’s housing waiting list into permanent homes.
“While it is always disappointing to lose colleagues from the Labour Party, our focus is firmly on the upcoming May elections. We will be putting forward excellent Labour candidates in every ward across Greenwich, all determined to deliver for local residents.”
Cllr Lakshan Saldin stood down from Labour at the same time as Cllr Cousins, citing not being chosen to stand by the party in next year’s elections as the key factor. In his resignation statement, he said: “I have always sought to put residents first and, now I am free from the restrictions of being part of the council’s Labour Group, will be able to fight even harder for your needs and concerns without my hands being tied by the factional priorities of the party’s national and local leadership.”
Cllr Saldin and Cllr Cousins have followed fellow independent Cllr Majella Anning, who left Labour in March after the Government made cuts to social security benefits. The three independents have joined with Greenwich’s only Green member Cllr Tamasin Rhymes in forming a new political group on the council.
Cllr Okereke was approached for comment through the council’s press office.
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