First day back after elections and Labour is already in ‘business as usual’ mode. Leeds councillor Paul Drinkwater has quit the Labour Party, describing the current system of council governance as a form of ‘institutionalised bullying’ and calling instead for a committee system which would involve members from all elected groups in council decision-making.

The toxic environment that Labour has created has no place in modern society. Brandon stands with Cllr Drinkwater when he says that no elected representative should be “complicit in the illusion of local government democracy in Leeds” where local ward councillors have very little influence and power is concentrated in the handpicked few.

Cllr Drinkwater said:

I find myself being bullied by the whip system into voting against good proposals put forward by ‘opposition’ parties simply because they were not proposed by the Labour Group and voting for proposals by the Labour executive that I disagree with, such as charging for disposal of certain items at the council’s tips

This speaks volumes as to the way in which Labour has repeatedly failed our city and our local communities, especially in Headingley & Hyde Park.

Brandon supports the proposal of a committee system of council governance which would see members from all elected groups represented on the council’s decision-making boards.

A truly liberal democracy works best when a broad spectrum of views are represented and balanced to create better well-rounded policies for our community. This is what we need to get the best out of our Council and our community.