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SHEARD OUSTED IN LABOUR COUP Pandor poised to step up after claims of rifts over new homes and ‘ethnicity’ By David Miller News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk
LABOUR big beast David Sheard has been ousted as Kirklees Council leader – in a coup by his own party. Coun Sheard (Lab, Heckmondwike) went on the warpath about his dismissal amid claims that the Labour group is divided following the revolt. He was axed at a meeting of Labour councillors
in Huddersfield on Monday night. They were reported to have voted 19 to 13 in favour of making Coun Shabir Pandor (Lab, Batley West) the new party leader. Labour have 34 councillors, two of whom either did not vote or did not attend the meeting. Coun Pandor will be put forward as council
IN... Shabir Pandor
OUT... David Sheard
leader at the authority’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 25. Coun Sheard, who took the top job two years ago, remains in post until then and says he will accept the decision. But whether Coun Pandor becomes council leader depends on being voted for by a majority of at least 35 out of 69 councillors. Coun Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) pointed to the apparent split at Labour’s Monday meeting. He said: “If those 13 people went to the toilet during the meeting it would leave Coun Pandor vulnerable. “If they they can keep their 34 ducks in a row they would only need one more vote. “But that could depend on how many crumbs Coun Pandor has to offer in order to retain support.” Coun Sheard became leader with help from Green and independent councillors while the
Tories and Lib Dems either voted against or abstained. It is claimed objections to the Local Plan were a motivating factor in his removal. Deputy council leader Coun Jean Calvert is against proposals to build 2,500 homes on Bradley Park Golf Course. She was re-elected as Labour deputy leader at Monday’s meeting and will be put forward to keep her council role on May 25. Coun Calvert has been off sick for much of the year and has missed a number of meetings. Coun Bolt has an interest as any housing development would have a knock-on effect to neighbouring Mirfield. He said: “We were originally told the Local Plan is strategic and for the greater good. “If there are changes now then it will be political expedience and opportunism driving it.
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