IN THE NEWS
DISCIPLINARY HEARING FOR WAKEFIELD LABOUR COUNCILLOR OVER SUPPORT FOR CABBIE PROTEST
A Wakefield Labour councillor has faced a party disciplinary hearing after supporting cabbies when they staged a protest outside Wakefield Town Hall.. Nadiah Sharp became the subject of an investigation by Wakefield Council’s Labour Group chief whip. The investigation is believed to relate to Councillor Sharp’s public show of support for cabbies at their demonstration on Wed- nesday July 20 this year. Drivers held a demonstration ahead of a full council meeting to discuss making changes to “unfair” taxi licensing regulations. It was the second time this year that members of the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) picketed the Town Hall over the long-running issue. A letter was sent to
Labour
councillors from chief whip Richard Forster, to confirm that a special meeting had been called on September 5, at Wakefield Town Hall. The letter stated: “This will be a one item agenda to discuss a disciplinary investigation that I have conducted in relation to two alleged breaches of Labour Party Rules by a member of the Labour Group. “The purpose of this meeting will be to provide more details about the investigation that has taken place, along with my conclusions and recommend-ations. “During the meeting, the Councillor concerned will be given the opportunity to speak and members will be invited to put specific questions to both myself and the Councillor in question.” The letter continued: “Members
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will then be invited to take part in a vote on the course of action that I will be proposing at the meeting, which will be by secret ballot.” Drivers have
been calling on the local authority to scrap the so-called ‘six point ban’ and relax other rules, including extending the life of taxi vehicles, as they struggle during the cost of living crisis. Currently, cabbies who rack up more than six points on their licence in three years face lengthy bans from the trade. A motion to make policy changes was put to the full council meeting on July 20 by Conservative councillor, Nadeem Ahmed. It was rejected after the majority of Labour group members voted against it, accusing the Tories of “playing politics” with public safety. Cllr Sharp, who was elected in May this year, had told the protesters at the July demonstation: “This isn’t about working conditions. This isn’t about pay. This isn’t about changing terms and conditions within our working rights. This is about parity, equality, social justice. “We are the Labour Party. Labour means to work. We stand by the workers. That includes taxi drivers, bus drivers, train drivers. “What is inflicted against the taxi drivers has a knock-on effect on the residents.” A Labour spokesperson said: “Labour Councillors agree to
accept the rules of the Labour Party as a condition of membership of the Labour Group. “A disciplinary hearing will be held to consider alleged breaches of these rules.” As a result of the disciplinary hearing on 5 September, Councillor Nadiah Sharp had the whip removed and was suspended from the Labour party for two months. Yasar Ahmed, Chairman Wakefield Drivers Association, told PHTM: “We believe that action taken against an elected member by her own party, who had shown great support to our trade was both unjustified and totally undemocratic. Elected councillors serve the public and should not not be forced by the whip to go against public support. There is no place for party politics when it comes to our rights as licensed drivers. “These issues have been ongoing for many decades and the council continues to fail us and the city. “The disciplinary was all to do with Cllr Sharp’s support towards the trade, there’s no other reason. Cllr Sharp has shown great courage, and leads by example, to all other councillors on their duties to us as drivers and citizens. “Had we not supported Cllr Sharp, it is without doubt, her punishment and suspension would have been severe had this hearing not gained national coverage. “I would like to thank councillor Sharp for her commitment to the drivers of Wakefield and all those that attended in her support.”
OCTOBER 2022 PHTM
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