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Councillors line up for leadership challenge
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| CURRENT LEADER: Albert Nugent |
THE new leader of the region's biggest local authority will be chosen from three Labour councillors.
Former miner Albert Nugent, who has held the post on Durham County Council since a backbench revolt in 2006 over proposed care home closures, faces a challenge from an academic and a long-serving council officer who championed Tony Blair.
But neither Alan Napier, leader of Easington District Council, who was regarded as the "heir apparent", nor current county council deputy leader Clive Robson are standing for the leadership.
Labour emerged from Thursday's elections - the county council will metamamorphose into a unitary, all-purpose council next year when six district councils are abolished - with a majority of eight seats.
Coun Nugent, from Seaham, who survived a confidence vote and hit out at opponents of his leadership within the Labour group at a recent cabinet meeting, is up against Couns Peter Brookes and Simon Henig.
The 67 members of the new Labour group will vote on Saturday for the man they want to lead them into the transition to unitary government.
Coun Nugent, who represents the Deneside division, said: "I said I would stand from the word go. I believe my long experience with the authority and in the interest of continuity and unity I will be the best man for the job."
Peter Brookes, the county council's former head of community services who retired last year, won Trimdon division in Sedgefield. He was one of the "famous five" who helped Tony Blair secure the nomination for the Sedgefield constituency seat in 1983.
Coun Brookes, a member of Trimdon Parish Council, said: "A few people were asking me to consider it (the leadership). I think they thought I had the qualities, skills and experience at county level.
"Some people think we need a clean break and new start. I think that given the reduced majority the party has we need to create unity among the Labour group and set out a vision. And use all the talents available to take forward the challenge of the new unitary authority."
Coun Henig, has been a Chester-le-Street District councillor since 1999 and deputy leader since 2003. He is a senior lecturer in politics at Sunderland University and has written several books on the subject.
Coun Henig said Labour faced a new outlook after the successes of other parties in the elections.
He added: "The Labour Party has to go forward in a united manner because there is real opposition now.
"This image of County Durham being a totally Labour-dominated area isn't the case any more - although there are certain areas where it still is true - but it is a rapidly changing county."
8:03pm Wednesday 7th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Tommy, Wear Valley on 12:08am Thu 8 May 08
The Blair legacy goes on, Brooke's has frantically being phoning round for support, as someone who in my opinion balls things up as an office at County Hall, and a hanger on who thinks he deserves something for his loyal support of Blair, I hope the new Unitary Authority Labour Councillors see through his ambition.
His 'experience' as a Town/Parish Councillor does not bode well for his ambition.
Chester le Street boy HENIG, should remember the past, anyone remember the Waterson days.
Nugent may not look the part, be he has commitment, compassion and does know what is important to the most important people the electorate.
The Blair legacy goes on, Brooke's has frantically being phoning round for support, as someone who in my opinion balls things up as an office at County Hall, and a hanger on who thinks he deserves something for his loyal support of Blair, I hope the new Unitary Authority Labour Councillors see through his ambition.
His 'experience' as a Town/Parish Councillor does not bode well for his ambition.
Chester le Street boy HENIG, should remember the past, anyone remember the Waterson days.
Nugent may not look the part, be he has commitment, compassion and does know what is important to the most important people the electorate.
Posted by: Ken, Bishop Auckland on 1:07am Thu 8 May 08
Will Labour or New Labour never learn, get back to basics, elect someone who knows why he is there, not for ambition, not for theoretical politics, we have had all that in the Blair years. If the rag tag and bob tail Labour Councillors know their worth they only have one choice, the pitman Albert Nugent.
Get real and listen to what the core vote is asking for, not some ambitious no-body or some theoretical genius, just honest open and genuine leadership from an extraordinary man of conviction. Durham deserves the best, don't let the NEW labour machine ruin Durham as well.
I have been there and done it, I only hope Nugent gets the support he deserves.
Will Labour or New Labour never learn, get back to basics, elect someone who knows why he is there, not for ambition, not for theoretical politics, we have had all that in the Blair years. If the rag tag and bob tail Labour Councillors know their worth they only have one choice, the pitman Albert Nugent.
Get real and listen to what the core vote is asking for, not some ambitious no-body or some theoretical genius, just honest open and genuine leadership from an extraordinary man of conviction. Durham deserves the best, don't let the NEW labour machine ruin Durham as well.
I have been there and done it, I only hope Nugent gets the support he deserves.
Posted by: Dave, Chilton on 2:33pm Thu 8 May 08
Have the stuffy old Labourites of the North East not yet realised that the pits closed over 20 years ago? Ken from Bishop Auckland - the elected leader should not be someone who looks back to a post-war industrial utopia that once existed. The stark reality is that the Tories destroyed industry in the region and we have to pick up the pieces and move on. That is why change is not only preferable but it is necessary. We need a leader with a fresh outlook who can modernise the region and help communities and businesses catch up with the rest of the country. I have my reservations about New Labour at the best of times, but it is better to support the modern Labour party than to carry on complaining about it! Coun. Brookes is the man to turn Durham into a 21st Century authority, which is exactly the kind of change that archaic County Hall needs!
Have the stuffy old Labourites of the North East not yet realised that the pits closed over 20 years ago? Ken from Bishop Auckland - the elected leader should not be someone who looks back to a post-war industrial utopia that once existed. The stark reality is that the Tories destroyed industry in the region and we have to pick up the pieces and move on. That is why change is not only preferable but it is necessary. We need a leader with a fresh outlook who can modernise the region and help communities and businesses catch up with the rest of the country. I have my reservations about New Labour at the best of times, but it is better to support the modern Labour party than to carry on complaining about it! Coun. Brookes is the man to turn Durham into a 21st Century authority, which is exactly the kind of change that archaic County Hall needs!
Posted by: Alan, Durham on 4:31pm Thu 8 May 08
I know all three candidates,and there is only one that can deliver. He is neither a professor or a Blairite, he is a man capable of holding the council together, who has priciples, knows who he serves and doesn't take fools gladly, he is nt Brookes (the town councillor) or an academic like Henig.
Dave from Chilton Maggie and protege Blair would be proud of you. Shame you don't know the
difference between the future and your own perceptions of the past.
I know all three candidates,and there is only one that can deliver. He is neither a professor or a Blairite, he is a man capable of holding the council together, who has priciples, knows who he serves and doesn't take fools gladly, he is nt Brookes (the town councillor) or an academic like Henig.
Dave from Chilton Maggie and protege Blair would be proud of you. Shame you don't know the
difference between the future and your own perceptions of the past.
Posted by: No-one, Durham on 5:15pm Thu 8 May 08
Who-cares, they won't have a labour majoritory for long, so it will be a Liberal leader who will be importnat
Watch at the next elections
Who-cares, they won't have a labour majoritory for long, so it will be a Liberal leader who will be importnat
Watch at the next elections
Posted by: george reilly, easington on 8:29pm Thu 8 May 08
Nugent is the one who sent a dagger through the council post to someone he did not like. Is this the good political judgement of someone we want to be leading a 600 million organisation determining the lives of 500 thousand people? Good grief what a farce. He is an apparatchik from Labour's Soviet Past. What vision does he have for the future? County Durham has been crying out for a strategic vision that has never been found in County Hall. If there had been ANY vision would we have the educational system, economic deprivation, and degeneration we have today? Instead of investing the County Durham wealth to build for the future, the money was spent on a utopian socialist paternalistic world. If you want to see Nugent's vision for the future, look at Easington today, which he represents! There the paternalistic socialist dream lives where the people are told what is good for them and there is no strategic vision to help the people escape their misery. Deprivation continues despite millions of pounds invested. Where was or is the strategic leadership from the County Council that Nugent leads? Hahahaha. If you tolerate this, your children will be next as they have been for the last thiry years in Easington!!!
To put it directly, but differently, maybe someone should ask why so few Executive homes have been built in an area with great seaside views, good access to the A19, and to an airport. I wonder if someone in the Easington area wants to keep the housing development system more sympathetic to the political structure in place. One wonders what would have happened to the political makeup if the housing system would have been allowed to encourage such development.
Nugent is the one who sent a dagger through the council post to someone he did not like. Is this the good political judgement of someone we want to be leading a 600 million organisation determining the lives of 500 thousand people? Good grief what a farce. He is an apparatchik from Labour's Soviet Past. What vision does he have for the future? County Durham has been crying out for a strategic vision that has never been found in County Hall. If there had been ANY vision would we have the educational system, economic deprivation, and degeneration we have today? Instead of investing the County Durham wealth to build for the future, the money was spent on a utopian socialist paternalistic world. If you want to see Nugent's vision for the future, look at Easington today, which he represents! There the paternalistic socialist dream lives where the people are told what is good for them and there is no strategic vision to help the people escape their misery. Deprivation continues despite millions of pounds invested. Where was or is the strategic leadership from the County Council that Nugent leads? Hahahaha. If you tolerate this, your children will be next as they have been for the last thiry years in Easington!!!
To put it directly, but differently, maybe someone should ask why so few Executive homes have been built in an area with great seaside views, good access to the A19, and to an airport. I wonder if someone in the Easington area wants to keep the housing development system more sympathetic to the political structure in place. One wonders what would have happened to the political makeup if the housing system would have been allowed to encourage such development.
Posted by: Mr M, County Durham on 9:29pm Thu 8 May 08
Have to agree with Ken and George. Albert may be a man of the people and served his community well but County Durham needs someone with a fresh vision to take the new authority forward. Having met both Councillors Brooks and Henig I am sure either one of them could provide that vision. I would be fearful for the future of the new authority if Councillor Nugent were elceted as it's leader.
Have to agree with Ken and George. Albert may be a man of the people and served his community well but County Durham needs someone with a fresh vision to take the new authority forward. Having met both Councillors Brooks and Henig I am sure either one of them could provide that vision. I would be fearful for the future of the new authority if Councillor Nugent were elceted as it's leader.
Posted by: Madge, Consett on 11:01pm Thu 8 May 08
Welcome to County Durham. Ten out of the twenty most unhealthy wards in the whole country are in Easington. If you have a teenage daughter she is significantly more likely to get pregnant living in Sedgefield than the rest of the country, and you'll probably die 5 years before your twin brother who lives in Cornwall. It's not an accident that the voting form requires you to make your mark with an X. In all the councillors I've ever met, only a handful would be capable of running more than a tap. But that's democracy for you.
Welcome to County Durham. Ten out of the twenty most unhealthy wards in the whole country are in Easington. If you have a teenage daughter she is significantly more likely to get pregnant living in Sedgefield than the rest of the country, and you'll probably die 5 years before your twin brother who lives in Cornwall. It's not an accident that the voting form requires you to make your mark with an X. In all the councillors I've ever met, only a handful would be capable of running more than a tap. But that's democracy for you.
Posted by: Isa Amazed, poor backword Easington on 12:17am Fri 9 May 08
Hi Stupid,
quote "Nugent is the one who sent a dagger through the council post to someone he did not like"
It was a plastic knife and sent to a bloke who topped the expenses league for te County Council, aka Shuttleworth.
So ok Cupid Stunt I quote again 'To put it directly, but differently, maybe someone should ask why so few Executive homes have been built in an area with great seaside views, ' Perhaps that is not what the communoty wants.
Right wing propoganda, that doesnt care about the people in the commununity
Hi Stupid,
quote "Nugent is the one who sent a dagger through the council post to someone he did not like"
It was a plastic knife and sent to a bloke who topped the expenses league for te County Council, aka Shuttleworth.
So ok Cupid Stunt I quote again 'To put it directly, but differently, maybe someone should ask why so few Executive homes have been built in an area with great seaside views, ' Perhaps that is not what the communoty wants.
Right wing propoganda, that doesnt care about the people in the commununity
Posted by: c, durham on 10:34am Fri 9 May 08
just to clarify george Albert Nugent rep[resents seaham, not easington, if you must try to assasinate a persons caractoe please get your facts right, and of course he may infact represent the people of seaham but he has apassion for the people of county durham, just look at why he took the post of leader in the first place. people who look only at the present forget how bad it was under other parties, and also have no vision for the future, i belive albert nugent has the commitment, passion and the vision .
just to clarify george Albert Nugent rep[resents seaham, not easington, if you must try to assasinate a persons caractoe please get your facts right, and of course he may infact represent the people of seaham but he has apassion for the people of county durham, just look at why he took the post of leader in the first place. people who look only at the present forget how bad it was under other parties, and also have no vision for the future, i belive albert nugent has the commitment, passion and the vision .
Posted by: george reilly, easington on 8:42pm Fri 9 May 08
A couple of points to make in response to various comments. One, Seaham is in Easington District Council and Easington Labour party covers that area. Thus, there is an association between Seaham and Easington. Second, to assassinate a character, one has to have a character to assassinate. Third, the points are all true and not lies or innuendos. The dagger was sent and there are very few executive homes built in Easington. Third, the time for vision is now. Even when in leadership role what did Nugent do? At least Manton had a stand on principle, which the economics have demonstrated was the right move even if politically unpalatable, while Nugent et al have done what? Fourth, to Isa Amazed, the home building is a project of labour since 1997 so it is not right wing. Also, it is another way to bring economic development but the only one that would threaten the political might of the resident labour party. After all executive home buyers rarely vote labour (well maybe new labour :)) It would appear my cupid friend that you would rather the residents stayed on the teat of government welfare rather than found a way to develop their own self worth. To put it differently, but directly, why is Easington and much of County Durham STILL deprived, depressed, and in dire need of regeneration 11 years into a Labour administration? If Nugent and the County Council intelligenstia were working properly they would have developed some strategic programmes to alleviate said poverty and deprivation. Or, is it better to remain deprived and depressed to stay on the government's benefit teat? Perhaps the system rewards failure more than it rewards success??? In any case, Nugent and Labour have delivered failure rather than sucesss, except in the PR spin world.
A couple of points to make in response to various comments. One, Seaham is in Easington District Council and Easington Labour party covers that area. Thus, there is an association between Seaham and Easington. Second, to assassinate a character, one has to have a character to assassinate. Third, the points are all true and not lies or innuendos. The dagger was sent and there are very few executive homes built in Easington. Third, the time for vision is now. Even when in leadership role what did Nugent do? At least Manton had a stand on principle, which the economics have demonstrated was the right move even if politically unpalatable, while Nugent et al have done what? Fourth, to Isa Amazed, the home building is a project of labour since 1997 so it is not right wing. Also, it is another way to bring economic development but the only one that would threaten the political might of the resident labour party. After all executive home buyers rarely vote labour (well maybe new labour :)) It would appear my cupid friend that you would rather the residents stayed on the teat of government welfare rather than found a way to develop their own self worth. To put it differently, but directly, why is Easington and much of County Durham STILL deprived, depressed, and in dire need of regeneration 11 years into a Labour administration? If Nugent and the County Council intelligenstia were working properly they would have developed some strategic programmes to alleviate said poverty and deprivation. Or, is it better to remain deprived and depressed to stay on the government's benefit teat? Perhaps the system rewards failure more than it rewards success??? In any case, Nugent and Labour have delivered failure rather than sucesss, except in the PR spin world.
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