EXCLUSIVE: Mansel Park Bomb/Explosive Device - Council Chief Executive Defends Council

 

Andrew Pope at Mansel Park
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

 

On 12th April, an explosive device was found by a metal detectorist in Mansel Park. It was later destroyed in a controlled explosion by the Army Bomb Squad.

Since then, local residents told Redbridge ward candidate Andrew Pope that they were very worried, as they had been in the area shortly before. And including with their families.

Andrew was worried for them, and because he was also at the exact site of the find with a colleague, just days before (see photo above).

Added to that is the fact that this was the site near where the play area used to be. Now there is just a climbing frame.

Immediately after the incident, Andrew asked the Chief Executive of the Council the following questions:

 

"Why did it take a metal detectorist to find something which should have been checked and found by the authorities (namely, Southampton City Council, as it is your land)?

Wasn't there a play area near where the device was found?

Was this turned up when the play area was removed?"

 

No reply was received. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt.

Andrew had to chase the Chief Executive, twice, to get a response.

Eventually a response was received from the Chief Executive today, almost three weeks after the bomb was found:

"As you may suspect I wanted to gather the facts before responding to you and it has taken some time to do so. From my emergency planning colleagues, I understand that while this matter was not reported to us, the appropriate agencies were contacted by the individual and the ordnance made safe which is good news.

 

Whilst the Council carries out routine visual inspections of its open spaces it does not search for buried ordnance by way of invasive or other means, it would be impractical to do so. If ordnance is found either by Council staff or reported to us by residents there are strict escalation procedures via Emergency Planning and as you will appreciate these involve partners such as the police and army if appropriate. 

 

In the circumstances I am comfortable that the Council takes a responsible and appropriate approach to dealing with such matters and acts in line with both professional advice and as other local authorities do."

 

What do you think of the Chief Executive's response? 

 

Do you think residents will be reassured by it? Are you?

 

Do you think the Council could do more to protect residents and workers on their land from explosives?

 

Or do you think we are asking too much?

 

 

Andrew says: 

 

"I am disappointed in the Chief Executive's response, and how long and how much effort it took to get it. I respect the emergency planning function at the Council from previous very positive dealings with them.

But I do not know why other local media have not asked these questions about something which is worrying a lot of park users and Council staff too. It's all a bit of a mystery.

I do not think it is too much for Council workers and contractors to look out for bombs or other dangers on Council land, when conducting work. They surely do, but somehow this was missed. Why and how?

I am worried for the public and for Council workers. I understand these things - if a war explosive is what it was - by nature are hidden but was it inadvertently churned up by works and missed. If so, why? And could anything more have been done? If it could then it should.

At Southampton Independents and the Independent Network, we listen to residents and act on their concerns. We do the investigations that other local media do not, and inform the Southampton public about important and urgent issues. We are volunteers. They are paid."

 

 

What Will Andrew Pope Do if Elected As Your MP?

Andrew Pope

On thousands of leaflets being delivered across Southampton, Andrew Pope, our Candidate in the General Election for Southampton Test, has pledged to:

1. STAND UP for Southampton
2. LISTEN to YOUR priorities
3. Fight for BETTER roads, NHS & care
4. FIGHT waste of YOUR money
5. BREXIT working for YOU
6. A POSITIVE future NOT failure

Have you received our leaflet
on your doorstep?

Andrew says:

"Enough is Enough!

Labour, Lib Dem or Tory SAME OLD STORY!

I listen to YOU. I work for YOU."

Southampton residents Mr and Mrs Taylor say:

"Andrew listens to you.

Andrew works for you.

Andrew stands up for you." 

Former lifelong Labour voter Mr Goodchild says:

"Labour is aimless.

Labour is leaderless.

Labour MPs and councillors are hopeless.

I voted Labour all my life, but I just can't do it any more. Vote for Andrew Pope. Andrew stands up for you."

Denise Wyatt, Southampton Independents campaigner says:

"The Tories will fudge this Brexit. Nobody trusts Theresa May on dealing with mass immigration because she didn't deliver it in SEVEN YEARS as Home Secretary! 

Andrew is the ONLY choice for Southampton Test, if you want someone to fight at Westminster for the Brexit that you voted for in the EU Referendum."

At this General Election on 8th June 2017, or with your postal vote before then, please...

VOTE Andrew Pope Southampton Independents!

  

  

Labour Council Blames Tory Government For Its Own Failures

Southampton Independents campaigner Denise Wyatt wrote the following letter to the Daily Echo.

The online version is here, with links to other Echo articles on the funding of schools.

The original version of Denise's letter is below.

"I read today's Echo with interest, as I and my Southampton Independent colleague Councillor Andrew Pope had been contacted by parents and the headteachers of schools across Southampton. We met with those parents and headteachers.
The problems are not limited to just SEN schools.
As the Echo has reported at February Full Council, mainstream schools had their funding changed - not by the Conservative Government but by the Labour-run Council. Schools were told one thing by the Council and then the Council did another. They are furious with the Council.
Prior to that, the SEN provision in the City had not been properly forecast by the Council. And massive unplanned expenditure of millions of pounds resulted.
It seems that the Council doesn't have a grip on its schools, or on their funding, just like it doesn't have a grip on the safeguarding of children.
This is unsurprising perhaps when the current Chief Executive Ms Baxendale has presided over several Directors of Children Services and Labour has changed the Cabinet members for education and safeguarding many times over the last five years. The latest incumbent Labour Councillor Paffey doesn't have a grip, as neither did his predecessor former Cllr Jeffrey.
And no wonder OFSTED came back recently to inspect Southampton City Council. The Tories were no better when they were "in charge" of the Council.
It's just another case or Labour or Tory, same old story.
And it's one blaming the other, rather than parents and children getting the education and facilities they deserve - the best.
Best wishes,
Denise Wyatt
Southampton Independents"

Council's Child Protection Crisis Continues!

Southampton City Council has faced constant criticism over recent years, whether the Labour Party has been "in charge" of the Council or the Conservative Party has been "in charge". A list of some of the criticisms is at the bottom of this article.

Southampton Independents have been dealing with an increasing number of cases of protecting children from harm, including harm caused by the neglect of Southampton City Council.

One Redbridge family who asked us Independents to help them to protect a child and their family say:

"This Labour Council is a risk to children and their families.
For months, officers of the Council ignored us. The child ended up in hospital.
OFSTED need to come back!
Andrew and Denise fought for us to better protect the child.
Labour is failing families."

The case was referred by us, with the permission of the family, to OFSTED, who inspect Council services. OFSTED confirmed they would add the issues of the case to what they would look at when they next inspected the Council.

The issues included the lack of responses from the Council to the family, and the lack of response to Independent Councillor Andrew Pope when he raised the issues on behalf of the family.

The Labour Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Letts, said at the time, and we quote:

"Contacting Ofsted in these circumstances makes you look ridiculous."

Do you agree that we did the right thing?

And do you agree that the Leader of the Council brings the Council into disrepute by saying such a thing?

Southampton Independents have been dealing with other cases where children's health and wellbeing have been put at risk by the Council's neglect.

Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt, an expert on local government, the welfare system and the protection of the vulnerable, says:

Denise Wyatt

"There have been many critical reports by the local Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle, going over many years, but neither Labour nor Tory seem to have been able to protect children, which they are legally and morally obliged to do."

Some of the failures by Southampton City Council, and which party was supposed to be "in charge" of protecting children, are listed below.

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope said:

"The many criticisms are the verdicts of the local media, the Lottery, the Crown Prosecution Service and OFSTED.  

Why has it been left by Southampton's Labour and Conservative parties to these external bodies to expose their failings?  

Why haven't successive Labour and Tory councils addressed the very serious safety issues? 

Is it because they prefer to cover up rather than clean up?

The fact that they've failed to answer my questions adequately, in public and in private, suggests that they prefer to cover up. 

Southampton Independents will continue to expose the failings of Southampton City Council on safeguarding and other issues facing the residents of our City."

ENDS

Litany of Failures of Successive Councils over Years (click the links for more info):

11th November 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council. That is, they "run" the Council):

"Senior childcare manager Kim Drake quits just hours before major child services shake-up"

There have been many changes in the Director of Children's Services position over recent years. This was the latest one, and we understand that Ms Drake and someone claiming to be her "partner" did not seem to be too pleased with the situation, judging by comments on the Echo website at the time.

"The authority has twice the number of children in care than the national average."

"Independent Redbridge ward councillor Andrew Pope said: 'After many years, there continue to be very serious problems with the council's Children's Services.'

"Neither the Conservatives, nor Labour, have addressed these problems and children continue to be put at risk by the council's failures."


18th August 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"Southampton won't get £10m to improve children's mental health project due to "poor leadership" at council"

"LOTTERY bosses have blamed poor leadership at Southampton City Council after they refused a bid for £10million for youth mental health services."


23rd January 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"City council chiefs have confessed that social services workers, teachers and those in council run community services all ignored glaring signs that the sisters, aged seven and two at the time, were being severely neglected at home."


29th May 2014 (Labour has a majority on the Council, case referred to 2011 when the Conservatives were "in charge" of child protection):

"Southampton social services have been condemned in fresh reports into deaths and abuse of vulnerable children in their care"

"In 2011 Labour criticised the Tory administration for relying too heavily on agency staff to flesh out social services jobs.

But the reports released today confirm these failings continued after Labour won back control in 2012, with two cases occurring in late 2012 and early 2013."

18th November 2013 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"Shake-up for Southampton City Council social services in wake of children's deaths and damning Ofsted report"

"COUNCIL chiefs have vowed to carry out a major shake-up of social services in Southampton after inspectors branded them “inadequate” at a time when four children died in the city."


30th May 2014 (Labour has a majority on the Council, case referred to 2011 when the Conservatives were "in charge" of child protection):

"Crown Prosecution Service to revisit case of Shelly Adams following a damning review of her care of Bradley and Jayden Adams"

"(Conservative) Cllr Jeremy Moulton, who was in charge of children’s services in 2011, said this was something that should change..."

"Cllr Mark Chaloner, Cabinet member for children’s safeguarding since last December, said some members of the social services leadership team had left their jobs after performance reviews.

He said: “The people who were in charge at the time of these cases are no longer in charge but that was part of a natural change looking at events that occurred across two or more years.”

The OFSTED reports on Southampton City Council are listed on their website here.

Children at Risk - Labour or Tory, Same Old Story

Our latest "Redbridge Rally" newsletter

It takes us Independents to raise the failures that both Labour and Conservative parties have failed to address.

Just as with the scandal of the Arts Complex millions, supported by Labour and the Conservatives, the two-party system has failed the City of Southampton for too long.

Whilst the Arts Complex drains public funds, children are being put at risk and care centres for the elderly have been closed.

Whether it is Labour or Tory, it's the same old story.

We are very grateful to the Southern Daily Echo for two articles on child safety that they have recently published:

• Senior childcare manager Kim Drake quits just hours before major child services shake-up
• Soaring numbers of children taken into care due to 'toxic climate' say unions

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope is quoted in both articles, saying:

"After many years, there continue to be very serious problems with the council's Children's Services. Neither the Conservatives, nor Labour, have addressed these problems and children continue to be put at risk by the council's failures."

and

"Independent Redbridge ward representative Councillor Andrew Pope claimed the high staff turnover meant that increasing numbers of “inexperienced” social workers who are making “incorrect” assessments resulting in more children going into care. He said: “They still have issues with recruitment and retention. Something drastic has got to happen. They have to bring Ofsted back here.”

We have thanked the journalist Maxwell Kusi-Obodum for writing the articles and wished him well in his new job after leaving the Echo.

It was Councillor Pope who asked the Echo to cover this crisis in the safeguarding of children and families, after uncovering serious problems with the way Southampton City Council is failing to deal with child safety over a long period of time.

Councillor Pope was dealing with cases where families had come to him to complain of how the Council had failed to protect children and families. And when he raised these issues with officers of the Council, the response was appalling. That is, when he could actually get a response!

One family is quoted on the thousands of "Redbridge Rally" leaflets that Independents have delivered across Millbrook, Redbridge and Maybush (above):

"This Council is a risk to children and their families. For months, officers of the Council ignored us. The child ended up in hospital. OFSTED need to come back! Andrew and Denise fought for us to better protect the child. Labour is failing families."

Councillor Pope and Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt consistently raised serious concerns about child safety in Southampton. But like this family, they were ignored or given misleading information.

Andrew and Denise tried to get an answer to the question as to why there was double the national average of "children looked after" in Southampton. Since 2015, answers have not been forthcoming from the Leader of the Council Labour Councillor Simon Letts, the Director of Children Services (now departed), senior social workers and the Labour Councillor Eamonn Keogh whose job is to scrutinise the Labour Council on children and families.

Yes, that's right, a Labour Councillor was appointed by the Labour Party to scrutinise a Labour Council - what a shameful conflict of interest! No wonder the Council is in such a state.

Councillor Pope even tried to get an answer at the November 2016 Full Council, from the Cabinet member responsible, Councillor Paul Lewzey. He avoided the question and gave no answer. This was in full view of the Daily Echo journalist Mr Kusi-Obodum, who was astounded at the lack of response - and subsequently wrote the second article mentioned above.

This Labour Council simply does not know why it has this Child Protection Crisis.

From the Daily Echo:

"Cllr Lewzey said that the legacy of the serious case reviews were that the authority and other family agencies were “better” at spotting children at risk needing to be taken into care."

Denise says:

"I was in tears when I heard this Labour Councillor had said such an upsetting thing.

It is shameful that in the Daily Echo this Labour Councillor and the Labour Council seek to blame Southampton's families instead of taking responsibility for their own failures and failing to address years of neglect by the Council."

Andrew says:

"OFSTED need to come back now!

The situation is grave. Child safety issues are amongst the most serious issues that a councillor and campaigners can deal with. We have a duty to protect children and families and to blow the whistle."

We have contacted OFSTED and asked them to come back to Southampton to reassess the Council.

The seriousness of the failures of Southampton City Council, whether under a Labour-run or Conservative-run Council, cannot be overstated.

If you have a child or a family that you feel is being put at risk, please get in touch and we will take the case up for you.

And when the time comes, please vote for more Independent councillors. Independents are the only councillors who put the people of Southampton first, not the political party and not covering up due to the failed two-party system of Labour or Tory.

Independents stand up for you. We will keep fighting for you.

Councillor Andrew Pope and Denise Wyatt

December 2016

The Scandal of the Southampton Arts Complex

Southampton New Arts Complex
- STILL under construction!

It takes us Independents to shine a light on this scandal, and thanks to the Daily Echo, it is front page news.

We've written on this blog before about the scandal of the Southampton New Arts Complex (SNAC), a project that is massively over-time and over-budget.

We've heard from Southampton residents who are appalled that the Labour-run Council is putting millions into this failing project, whilst basic Council services are failing across the City.

In less than two years, the taxpayer bill has gone up twice, in £2 million chunks, from £12 million to £16 million. 

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope has asked how this has been allowed to happen by the Labour-controlled Council, but has not got full and frank answers from Labour councillors who've voted through these millions, or the Southampton Cultural Development Trust who were supposed to raise funds for the project.

Now the Daily Echo is reporting that the Government is bailing out the project, sinking even more of YOUR public money into this White Elephant, whilst basic services are being cut in YOUR area!

Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt says:

"The Labour Council has the wrong priorities. Roads and pavements are full of holes. Bins are missed. Grass is not cut. Weeds take over. Care centres are closed. Land is sold off. Children and vulnerable adults are unsafe. Traffic is chaos. Why?"

What do you think of the Arts Complex?

What do you think of the services that the Labour-run Council is providing?

Contact us and tell us.

Update: Southern Health CEO AND Chair Both Go!

Update (19th Sept 2016): We've just heard that the new Chair Tim Smart has gone too. He was only appointed a few months ago! More to follow.

---

We've just received the below statement from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our actions on this issue are documented here on this website.

Councillor Andrew Pope said:

"Her resignation was too long in coming. But she should have been removed anyway. I gave every opportunity for her to be removed, and for expressions of no confidence to be made. 

But the NHS system and the Labour and Tory parties sought to cover up the failings for too long. It shows how the NHS is run is very sick indeed, and that party politics has no place in the NHS. 

Ms Percy's resignation will not change how Southern Health is run. Much more fundamantal changes are needed. And hearing that she is still hanging around does not bode well for those changes to be made."

Campaigner Denise Wyatt said:

"This smacks of a backroom stitch-up that is not in the interests of patients.
It is shocking that Ms Percy survived for so long. The NHS is not being governed in the interests of patients. It is being governed in the interest of paid civil servants and quangocrats. Massive change is needed, and now. "

---

Statements from Katrina Percy and Tim Smart  

Dear Member,

Please be advised that Katrina Percy has decided to step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. The following statements have today been issued to the media:


Katrina Percy said;

“On 30 June Tim Smart announced the outcome of his review into Southern Health. I was pleased to have his endorsement and support to carry on in my role as Chief Executive and I have been humbled by the overwhelming support from staff and other colleagues.

Since then I have reflected on the effect the ongoing personal media attention has had on staff and patients and have come to the conclusion that this has made my role untenable. I have therefore come to the difficult decision to step down from my role as Chief Executive after nine years. I am delighted to be taking on an alternative role, providing strategic advice to local GP leaders as they work with others to transform the way in which health services are delivered across Hampshire, and I feel that now is the right time to take on that new challenge.
I know, and understand, that many will say I should have stepped down sooner given the very public concerns which have been raised in the past months. I stayed on as I firmly believed it was my responsibility to oversee the necessary improvements and to continue the ground breaking work we have begun with GPs to transform care for our patients.

I would like to thank all of our staff for their unstinting daily support and dedication to delivering the best possible care for all those we look after. I wish everyone at the Trust, and everyone who has supported it, especially over the past year, all the best.”


Tim Smart said;

“Katrina Percy has informed me of her decision to step down from her position as Chief Executive of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Katrina has come to the conclusion that, due to the significant focus on her as an individual, it is in the best interests of the Trust, patients and staff for her to step down. I have agreed, on the basis that her position has become untenable because of ongoing personal media attention. Katrina has taken up the offer to work local GP leaders providing strategic advice on the transformation of local health services. There is vital work that needs to be done for which she is ideally suited.

Katrina has shown great resilience, devoting herself to the patients and staff of Southern Health since it was created in 2011. In addition, the recently completed independent board capability review found Katrina to be well suited to lead the Trust forward.

Katrina has ensured that Southern Health is now working more closely with other health and care organisations in the region to provide more joined up care, so more people receive support at the right time and place. Katrina leaves the Trust financially sound and well-positioned to create a new form of multispecialty community provider in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I wish Katrina every success in her future endeavours, and thank her for her years of service.

I am an advocate of clinicians leading NHS organisations, so I am delighted that Julie Dawes, who joined the Trust in May this year as Director of Nursing and Quality, will be stepping up in the interim as Chief Executive Officer. She will be supported as and when required by Dr Matthew Patrick, Chief Executive Officer, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Jon Allen, Non-Executive Director and former Director of Nursing at Oxford Health. It is important that patients and our staff have confidence that Southern Health’s future is in safe hands.”




Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Membership Office|, Tatchbury Mount, Calmore, Hampshire, SO40 2RZ | 023 8087 4253 | ftmembership@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Southern Health: Unexplained Deaths and Dodgy Connections

Since the end of 2015, Denise and Andrew have worked with other campaigners for real and lasting change at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. You can see our actions on other posts on this website.

Councillor Andrew Pope has once again asked Labour and Conservative councillors on Southampton City Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel to have a vote of no confidence in the Board of Southern Health. For the second time this year, they have refused to even hold the vote.

We and other councillors were appalled when Labour Adult Social Care Cabinet Member Councillor Dave Shields tried to gag councillors from commenting on Southern Health.

We were aghast that Councillor Shields stated in response to a question at Full Council from his Tory opposite Councillor Ivan White, that he thought the new Chair of Southern Health, Tim Smart, would not be a "patsy". This was most peculiar language. So using Cllr Shields' words against him, Andrew asked him who he thought at Southern Health was a patsy? Councillor Shields refused to respond to that question. And Councillor Shields has consistently failed to properly intervene to protect Southampton residents from the neglect of Southern Health.

Why is this? 

Is it because Tim Smart is stated on the May 2016 Declaration of interests for Southern Health, and we quote:

"Member of Labour Party"

Interests must be declared.

And interests must not be abused.

We must be told whether this interest, or other interests, were influential in decision-making.

Now via the BBC this morning, we learn of allegations of connections between Southern Health and Tony Blair's Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell:

"The BBC has also learned Southern Health has access to the services of former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell, after it hired Portland Communications to help with its ongoing problems."

It was also reported by the Press Association via the Daily Echo.

Questions arise:

1. Is this the same Portland Communications that has been accused of causing splits in the Labour Party?

2. Are the Labour connections one reason why Labour councillors in Southampton are silent on the neglect of Southern Health? 

3. Is this why Labour Councillor Paul Lewzey, who sits on the Board (Council) of Governors at Southern Health, refused to back an independent investigation into the failings of Southern Health?

4. And in the light of today's revelations, isn't it interesting that Katrina Percy has not declared any interests. Why? Other people in the declaration of interets have mentioned associations with others. She has mentioned none. 

5. Such revelations also raise questions about the Audit Committee which were checking the decisions made. From the Press Association article:

"The Trust's Audit Committee were aware of the contract development but were satisfied that the market rates had been tested and that for a number of reasons, it was in the best interests of the Trust for their work to continue"

We have asked for the minutes of the Audit Committee. They do not appear to be readily publicly available - but then information on Southern Health is very hard to find. Further, the Terms of Reference of the Committee are not exactly encouraging tough scrutiny. For example, a quorum of two is very low - as low as they can go. This is very worrying.

---

To repeat.

Interests must be declared.

And interests must not be abused.

We need to know the answers and now.

In the meantime, we were saddened to hear that one of the few Southern Health governors to actually work for change, John Lewis Green, has now resigned. We completely understand why he did.

We were heartened by the rebellion of a new Governor, Mr Bell.

There remain many vacancies on the Board of Governors. We know why. They have been treated with contempt by the Trust Board of Southern Health. But many of them simply are not up to the job of holding the Trust Board to account. And when we have tried to "educate" them in their responsibilities, the vast majority have ignored us.

The above questions need to be answered.

Southern Health needs to be broken up.

It is too big.

It is too unwieldy.

It has failed and is continuing to fail the health and wellbeing of so many people.

And the entire Trust Board and (the non-rebel) Council of Governors need to be sacked by the Minister or new elections called for the entire Council. Now.

Councillor Andrew Pope - Resignation from Southampton Labour Group

Councillor Andrew Pope

As reported in the Daily Echo, on BBC Radio Solent, and on Radio 4's World This Weekend, I can confirm that I am now an Independent councillor for Redbridge, having given notice on Thursday afternoon to Southampton City Council's Monitoring Officer, as soon as he had confirmed the procedure. 

A week is a long time in politics, and a great deal has changed during the last week, not least the huge vote against Labour in the South. 

Sadly what hasn't changed is the approach of the Labour council in Southampton, as I confirmed from my very worrying conversation with Leader Cllr Letts on Wednesday, when he offered me a Cabinet position. 

Indeed his and successive (revolving door) Cabinet members' sustained and continuing lack of revenue generation and municipal enterprise for the City, and desire to work for the people of Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge, were major factors in my leaving the Labour Group before it does more damage to Southampton and its people. 

I can have no part in it, if I am true to my conscience, and my job to represent and protect others.

Like many others have, I could have taken the Cabinet role I was offered, and the allowance, and just kept my head down, selling out the people of Southampton to party politics that leads to destruction instead of objectivity.

I couldn't be part of it in a failing Cabinet and failing Labour Council.

It is failing in many ways, not least because the Aims and Values in the Party rules for Labour Groups are not being followed. As I said in my interview on BBC Radio Solent, these are:

"To work constructively in their local authority for real and sustainable improvements in the economic, social and environmental well-being of the communities and local people they represent."

The Labour Council has now had three years to do this. They have failed to promote the Labour Aims and Values, and they have failed to protect services for the people in the area I represent.

Instead, they have continued to bungle, and make chaos in our great City.

Just look at the roads! Chaos caused by the inadequacy of the Labour Council.

Look at the bungled removal of adult social care that has lost Labour votes.

Look at the changes to Sure Start that are turning Labour supporters away.

Look at the bungled way that the Test Lane proposals have been handled.

Look at the Millbrook and Maybush Regeneration project that has lost Labour votes, through no fault of my own, because of how it has been mishandled - despite my best efforts to advise privately for the Leader Cllr Letts to get it sorted. 

Look at the libraries! Unashamedly, they have threatened to remove libraries from areas of deprivation, which a Labour Council should never do. I have pushed back privately, time and time again. But Cllr Letts and other members of the Cabinet dismissed my views, and the views of people in Redbridge.

I have been very patient, and extremely loyal in the face of extreme provocation and Labour negligence. As I say, I can have no part in it.

I tried and tried again over the last three years to ensure that the Labour Council is actually a Labour Council. It isn't. It is just more and more cuts, and a lack of innovation that is needed to protect services and the vulnerable. Other councils, of all parties, have done it. Why hasn't Southampton? Because of a lack of leadership and a lack of vision.

I have been a member of the Labour Party for 10 years. I believed it was the natural party for working people, as a workplace trade union representative before I joined. 

I do not believe that Labour is that party any more. And neither do millions of voters who didn't back Labour.

The Labour Group in Southampton, and the Labour Party in England, faces the electoral abyss unless it properly changes to represent the majority of working people and to promote aspiration. I am highly sceptical that will happen, for many reasons.

I have resigned from the Labour Group out of conscience. I have not done this lightly. 

I remain a member of the Labour Party for the time being, and am alarmed at the lack of due process and lack of democracy being followed by Labour Party officials. They have not even followed enough due process to warrant my accusing them of a kangaroo court! Sadly, in my experience over the last decade, a lack of professionalism from paid officials is commonplace in the Labour Party. It is indicative of the wider malaise that voters have detected - that the officials and bureaucracy are helping the already powerful and the careerists, rather than what a Labour Party was founded for.

I will continue to fight for Redbridge, and work very hard for my residents, listening to them and acting for them, as I have done over the last four years. 

My successes have largely been despite, not because, of the Labour Council and despite Labour's failings nationally - which were proved by the votes going elsewhere in the General Election.

Perhaps a new Party will emerge, or an existing one will reform, to represent the many, not the few.