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Henig elected to leadership role
SIMON Henig has been voted in as the new leader of Durham County Council.
Coun Henig, a Sunderland University lecturer who has been a Chester-le-Street District councillor since 1999 and deputy leader since 2003, was elected at a meeting at County Hall today.
His elevation follows the suspension of five Labour councillors, including the former leader Coun Albert Nugent, by the party.
Coun Nugent was also in the running for the leadership of the council as it moved to become a new unitary authority.
The suspensions follow a dispute over women candidates.
9:08pm Saturday 10th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe on 6:08am Sun 11 May 08
How can anyone have any faith in this New Labour administration they'll doing anything to stay in power, here in Newton Aycliffe before the unitary elections, one ward de-selected the councillor who was Sedgefield BC deputy leader and the Constituency Party parachuted him into our ward for the elections but democracy ruled and he was not elected here either. We are starting to find that as you go higher up the party ladder the less reliable you become to the voter and voters are now starting to catch onto that fact.
How can anyone have any faith in this New Labour administration they'll doing anything to stay in power, here in Newton Aycliffe before the unitary elections, one ward de-selected the councillor who was Sedgefield BC deputy leader and the Constituency Party parachuted him into our ward for the elections but democracy ruled and he was not elected here either. We are starting to find that as you go higher up the party ladder the less reliable you become to the voter and voters are now starting to catch onto that fact.
Posted by: Phil, Durham on 10:06am Sun 11 May 08
Ooooh does anyone know the details of what happened to get Nugent and others suspended?
Ooooh does anyone know the details of what happened to get Nugent and others suspended?
Posted by: John Routledge, Witton Gilbert on 12:34pm Sun 11 May 08
The fact that a group of councillors from a politic party of this calibre are now going to control and affect the lives of about 500,000 people and a budget of £1billion per year beggers belief. And we cannot shift them for 5 years!!! I suppose that it is too much to hope that enough of them will put the interests of the people County Durham before New Labour requirements.
The fact that a group of councillors from a politic party of this calibre are now going to control and affect the lives of about 500,000 people and a budget of £1billion per year beggers belief. And we cannot shift them for 5 years!!! I suppose that it is too much to hope that enough of them will put the interests of the people County Durham before New Labour requirements.
Posted by: Madge J, Consett on 3:51pm Sun 11 May 08
What's the difference really between Brown and Blair. That was a bloodless coup as well. People tend to vote the way they always have, or are influenced by quite trivial issues. That's why Blair was such a meal ticket for the labour party as opposed to Brown. At the last election 3% of the population read a political party manifesto. That's quite scary considering a higher proportion are members of political parties. Are the tories any more popular becuase they've got better policies? Could it be Cameron is just better on TV than Brown? Bottom line is that the public of County Durham made their choice, and will reap what they sow. It is a crying shame that one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, with a world heritage site, is run by councillors who have an average age slightly higher than their IQ's.
What's the difference really between Brown and Blair. That was a bloodless coup as well. People tend to vote the way they always have, or are influenced by quite trivial issues. That's why Blair was such a meal ticket for the labour party as opposed to Brown. At the last election 3% of the population read a political party manifesto. That's quite scary considering a higher proportion are members of political parties. Are the tories any more popular becuase they've got better policies? Could it be Cameron is just better on TV than Brown? Bottom line is that the public of County Durham made their choice, and will reap what they sow. It is a crying shame that one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, with a world heritage site, is run by councillors who have an average age slightly higher than their IQ's.
Posted by: see, durham on 4:13pm Sun 11 May 08
henig was not elected or chosen for durham leader as he went through without an appoinent to stand against him, the labor party made sure of this, by convieniently suspending albert nugent on the eve of the vote, if they think the electorate believe that a meeting was scedueled for that day as said in the news then they must think were all a set of muppets.
Albert Nugent has been more than kicked in the teeth, and the run up to the unitary will show with other things going on it has been a witch hunt, to get rid of him, and they have succeded, but only as leader do they think a man of principle like Mr. Nugent is really going to just disapear i think and hope not, he is what the real labor party is about looking after the working class people, our old and vunerable were always top of his agenda, lets just hope amongst all the crap that goes on in politics poeple like Mr. Nugent will still be there fighting for us less capable to fight for ourselves.
henig was not elected or chosen for durham leader as he went through without an appoinent to stand against him, the labor party made sure of this, by convieniently suspending albert nugent on the eve of the vote, if they think the electorate believe that a meeting was scedueled for that day as said in the news then they must think were all a set of muppets.
Albert Nugent has been more than kicked in the teeth, and the run up to the unitary will show with other things going on it has been a witch hunt, to get rid of him, and they have succeded, but only as leader do they think a man of principle like Mr. Nugent is really going to just disapear i think and hope not, he is what the real labor party is about looking after the working class people, our old and vunerable were always top of his agenda, lets just hope amongst all the crap that goes on in politics poeple like Mr. Nugent will still be there fighting for us less capable to fight for ourselves.
Posted by: Giuseppe Pinelli, Durham City on 10:09pm Tue 13 May 08
New Labour been desperate to get rid of Albert Nugent for ages - he was elected to DCC leader after the previous leader was ousted after losing the plot and operating like "el presdiente". Albert may not have been as polished as new labour would have like him to be, but he was a man of principle and a democrat. The former leader has been touted around other seats by the party but lose his seat this time around.
This is a sign thatnew labour has realised that their project has been rejected by the people and they are now building again for 12 years time - they know the tories will get in next time so they are battening down the hatches and digging in. Henig will lead their model council - god help the people of County Durham!
New Labour been desperate to get rid of Albert Nugent for ages - he was elected to DCC leader after the previous leader was ousted after losing the plot and operating like "el presdiente". Albert may not have been as polished as new labour would have like him to be, but he was a man of principle and a democrat. The former leader has been touted around other seats by the party but lose his seat this time around.
This is a sign thatnew labour has realised that their project has been rejected by the people and they are now building again for 12 years time - they know the tories will get in next time so they are battening down the hatches and digging in. Henig will lead their model council - god help the people of County Durham!
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