No-show councillor thwarted in bid to rejoin Labour group
An ousted Labour councillor has had his application for re-admission to the city council's Labour group refused following fears he would "embarrass" the party.
Councillor Iqbal Desai was asked to resign from the Leicester City Labour Group in August after only attending one council meeting during a four-month period.
He met with Labour group officers on Monday to discuss his re-application.
However, his former Labour colleagues deemed his explanation for his absence between March and July inadequate and rejected his appeal.
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A spokesman for the Labour group said: "Leicester City Labour Group has decided that Councillor Desai's application for re-admission to the group be refused on the grounds that he hasn't given an adequate explanation as to the reasons for his absence.
"Furthermore, we haven't received sufficient reassurance that his current and future conduct will not embarrass or bring into disrepute Leicester City Labour Group."
Councillor Desai will be able to re-apply again in six months.
At the meeting, Coun Desai told the Mercury that at the Labour group meeting, he had said he did not wish to elaborate on the reasons for his absence.
He said: "I told them I was away on personal business.
"I was asked to explain my absence and did so. If my explanation was not satisfactory to them, then there is nothing more I can say."
Comments
by jimbob6163
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:32PM
“This man does not know when to go, your a has been no one want's you”
by RubyRama
Monday, September 10 2012, 7:29PM
“I commend the Labour pparty on this one. I live in the area he was elected for , and it's fair to say that he has not been effective and hasn't followed through with promises to help , meet individuals or talk about things. It has been near-impossible to pin down to any sort of councillor activity and has actively avoided people. The people in this area have been disenchanted with him for quite some time.It's a relief to see that someone has seen sense.”
by leicester
Monday, September 10 2012, 2:43PM
“Can we see the statement of how he intends to pay the money ?
£1 a week?
Should be done for fraud or theft.”
by leicester
Monday, September 10 2012, 2:40PM
“like it....praise for what?
He got cought out for theft.
No charges!
His fellow councillors gave themselves pay rises ,for the jobs they were elected to do,at the given rate.
Complicit theft ?”
by garyb2011
Friday, September 07 2012, 12:41PM
“I am happy to commend the Labout Group for their firm stance.
I wonder if he has paid the money back yet?”
by LikeItaLot
Friday, September 07 2012, 9:29AM
“Now will anyone praise the Labour group for their actions in this. And no I do not vote or support them”
by Graham_LE8
Friday, September 07 2012, 9:05AM
“Is it just me, or is there still a complete absense of contrition from this gentleman?”