Green councillor criticises Labour and Tories ahead of crucial vote

Charli Thompson says the council should move towards a ‘more open, collaborative and democratic culture’ as councillors prepare to attempt to elect a new leader reports David Floyd

Hendon Town Hall, where councillors will be voting this evening

Barnet’s first elected Green councillor has criticised her political opponents after they refused her request to serve on a council committee.

Charli Thompson, who was elected in Woodhouse ward at this month’s election, had written to the Labour and Conservative groups on the council requesting to serve on the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee.

In an email to the groups shared with Barnet Post, Thompson referenced “my own experience as a disabled person, carer, and extensive campaigning for disability rights” and added: “I believe I could make a constructive and informed contribution to the committee’s work.”

In her email, she also notes the precedent set by another Green, Caroline Russell, when she was the sole opposition councillor on Islington Council and was allowed to serve on two council committees.

However, in a statement today, Thompson reflects on the decision of the major groups to reject her approach and also avoid any attempts to seek her support ahead of tonight’s crucial vote on the council’s leadership.

She notes that “both parties also suggested they would not enter into agreements or arrangements with me” and that “some of the reasoning given centred around national political disagreements and international issues”.

Responding to this approach, she says that in contrast: “My focus is and always has been on Barnet residents. I campaigned solely on doing what is in my power as a councillor to do to make residents’ lives better. Having been elected, I will do exactly that.”

Last week, Barnet’s Labour and Conservative groups confirmed that they would not be seeking a deal with Thompson to gain support for their respective candidates for council leader at tonight’s annual meeting.

Labour told the Post that “significant policy differences” prevented engagement with the Greens.

When asked what those differences were they said: “The leader of the Barnet Labour group gave an undertaking that he would not allow international conflict to be imported into the running of the council. Green Party positions are not consistent with that pledge.”

The Conservatives cited “unbridgeable” differences on policy issues. They explained that these differences were: “The parties’ different stances on the matter of the war concerning Israel and Palestine, certain climate change matters and liberalisation of drug use but most of all, their party leader’s response on the police actions following the Golders Green attack.”

The borough’s 63 councillors will vote tonight to elect a leader with the successful candidate needing secure a majority in a situation where there are now 31 Labour and 31 Conservative representatives and 1 Green.

The most likely scenario is that Labour’s Barry Rawlings will be reelected as leader via a process which may involve the use of the mayor’s casting vote.

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