This Wednesday Camden's Council will be voting on who to appoint as Camden's Mayor for the next municipal year, and Camden's Liberal Democrat councillors will be nominating Flick Rea for this position.
Many West Hampstead residents have told me what a great mayor they think Flick Rea would make and for anyone who hasn't seen it I wanted to share with you this letter recently published in the Ham & High and Camden New Journal from my friend David Abrahams.
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| Cllr Flick Rea |
Dear Editor
I was very disappointed to read that Camden Labour are seeking to prevent Cllr Flick Rea from becoming Mayor of Camden after 27 years of tireless service to the people of Camden. Flick
is admired and respected across the Borough by people of all political
affiliations and none. She would make an absolutely first-class Mayor
for Camden.
One of the very sensible reforms brought
in by the Lib Dem/Conservative Partnership Administration in 2006-10 was
the decision to 'share the mayoralty' amongst all the political parties
in Camden. This meant that a Labour councillor, Nurul Islam, was
elected Mayor for 2008-09 even though Labour was in opposition at the
time. Nurul was a very popular and successful Mayor, who was elected
unanimously and enjoyed the full support of all parties during his term
of office.
It was a great shame that Labour abandoned
this sensible and popular reform as soon as they got back into power in
2010. Their argument that some terrible political calamity will
overtake Camden if there is an opposition Mayor doesn't remotely stand
up to scrutiny. The Mayoralty is primarily a ceremonial and
representative role. As all successful Mayors know, the role is not
about party politics. Sadly Labour's approach seems to betray the kind
of petty tribalism that some politicians love, but most members of the
public can't stand. Surely Camden deserves better than that.
David Abrahams
Chair, North West Camden Liberal Democrats
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