Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, is attempting to quell protests at the controversial meeting of Salford Council this Wednesday by packing out the public gallery with Labour Party members.
Councillors are expected to pass a cuts budget of over £30million at the meeting and in the past there have been demonstrations in the public gallery. An email from the Mayor, leaked to the Salford Star by a Labour Party member, urges members to "reduce the protest by getting Labour supporters in the gallery".
The full email reads...
"This is a request for support at the council meeting on Wednesday, 25th February at 9.30am. The Labour council will be discussing the budget and are expecting there to be protests. We would like to reduce the protest by getting Labour supporters in the gallery. If you are able to come along you will need to be at the civic centre in Swinton by 9am and you will need a ticket. Please reply to this email to arrange a ticket.
Thanks
Ian Stewart
Labour Group leader and City Myayor" (sic)
There is no facility on the Salford City Council website for ordinary members of the public to obtain advance tickets for Council meetings. Indeed, when contacted this morning, the Council's Democratic Services department told us "We are no longer issuing tickets. Access will be based on a first come basis. There is 50 seats and will be open from 9am".
The Salford Star has today written to the Council's Monitoring Officer, Ben Dolan, and asked whether the Mayor is overstepping his powers. We are awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, Salford Against The Cuts has issued the following statement...
"This is a blatant attempt to stifle democratic protest in this city, and the electors will see it for what it is.
"What's particularly concerning is that Ian Stewart thinks it's appropriate to sign this off as 'City Mayor'. In that position he is supposed to represent all the people of Salford - not just those who agree with him. He has already had to deal with complaints about Matt Finnegan, his former press secretary, allegedly carrying out Labour Party work while on the council payroll. When will he learn? The relevant standards committee may want to look into this.
"The Mayor is right to expect protests at the actions of the council in meekly passing on Con-Dem cuts, but since when does he have the right to declare the public gallery an all-ticket event so as to pack the gallery with his supporters? Where is the openness and transparency he has promised, and which the law requires?
"The fact that the email was leaked shows that even Labour Party members are sickened by the cuts and his Stalinist methods. Unfortunately, as yet, we still don't have one single councillor who is prepared to stand up to him and vote against cuts."
There is a lobby of the Labour Party Group tonight outside the Civic Centre at 5pm and a protest outside the meeting of the full Council on Wednesday at 8:30am - full details here...
Main photo by Steven Speed
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
