Policy Wonk Briefing

The following memo has been received by The Chief Whip from the policy wonks (pictured - who’ve clearly borrowed Cllr Jim Capstick’s blazers), who’ve been working night and day for the selection special.

These are the three moves they say Cllr Malcolm could have made to outmanouevre everyone. Each of these would have boosted public and party opinion of him.

He should have:

1) Offered a committee position to every party. As The Chief Whip has already explained, this could only have been a win-win situation. No matter how lowly the committee offered, you could still pull off the line that you wanted to include all sides in South Tyneside’s future.

2) Cllr Malcolm should have created a ‘bigger tent’. Gordon Brown received big praise for his ‘big tent’ and Cllr Malcom would have received the same. He should have asked Geoff Ford to head up the jobs and enterprise portfolio, and he should have brought in a former headteacher for the children and young people gig. Professional local politicians can only do so much, taking heed of The Chief Whip would have showed he was committed to finding the best man or woman for the job, rather than rewarding old colleagues.

3) Appointed Cllr Eddie McAtominey as Deputy Leader.

Eddie Mac has wanted the status and power of a top political position for years. He missed out on the Jarrow MP post, and now he’s missed out on the Deputy Leader position. Had he been given the opportunity, he’d have given it his all. He’d have worked every minute to prove his worth in the post, which could have only benefited the people of South Tyneside.

Some in the town hall say Cllr Malcolm feared that Eddie would always have had his eye on the leadership position, but this is a non-starter - there are few circumstances under which Eddie could have forced Cllr Malcolm out. Instead he’s appointed Alan Kerr. Cllr Kerr is friendly, affable, but ultimately bland. There’s no dynamism there. The Whip believes his appointment is a mistake.

Yes, Minister

The question on everyone’s lips tonight is: “Why has publicity-shy Cllr Iain Malcolm stood forward as leader?”

He’s always been a capable figure behind the scenes, and he’s not shy of standing up and making his point in council meetings.

But the job of Council Leader is a big one. It’s very high profile. And it demands a lot of time and commitment.

The Chief Whip can reveal that general consensus in the town hall is that he could be positioning himself to become an MP.

His dreams of becoming the MP for South Shields were snuffed out by David Miliband. But if Labour take a battering nationally in 2010, there’ll be scores of constituencies crying out for new blood.

What better to have on your CV, than Leader of South Tyneside Council? The very council which sits in David Miliband’s constituency, who by 2010, will probably be Labour leader.

Mayor Makes It

No-one the Whip has spoken to at the town hall is jumping for joy over any of the new faces who’ll take cabinet and committee power.

That is, except Cllr Tracey Dixon.

Cllr Dixon is spoken highly of by all parties and groups on the council, and her stock is through the roof following a successful year as Mayor.

It’s well known that those that work in the town hall felt she was the finest Mayor to work with.

She faced tough times earlier this year, chairing fiery council meetings where she became caught up in the crossfire. But the respect she garnered for taking on the role as Mayor while working as a hotel manager and a housewife is still strong. The Chief Whip wishes her good luck.

Shrewd or Shot?

Yesterday’s antics show that Cllr Iain Malcolm is still the shrewd politician he’s always been.

He looked ahead to 2010, where it’s possible that Labour could lose control of the council, and acted well in advance.

By getting the Tories, Lib Dems, Progressives and Real Independents on board, he’s ensured loyalty to the party if a coalition needs to be made in two years time. That is, of course, unless he’s appointed people who are even shrewder, who’ll pick up the paycheque for now, but steer well clear if he comes calling for their support in 2010.

However, it’s hard to see how this will help the likes of Cllr David Potts, who’ll likely be fighting a general election in the same year. General elections are Labour battling Conservatives, and being on the payroll of a Labour council for the next two years can only damage him.

Whatever happens, this will probably be spun as a ‘Council of all the talents’. However Cllr Malcolm may have shot himself in the foot…

Because as much as it would stick in his throat to have done so, offering a vice-chair to one of the Independents on the council would have shown that he was looking to be truly inclusive. If they had accepted, so be it. If they had refused, he’d have used it against them.

Instead, voters will be asking just how well-meant these new appointments are.

Comment moderation is now off

++UPDATE++

Progressive Cllr Ken Hickman also got a committee post yesterday.

You heard it here first

The big news of today is the number committee roles given to members of other parties on South Tyneside.

Cllr George Elsom, Cllr David Potts, Cllr Terry Haram, Cllr Joe Abbott - all given juicy vice-chair roles on assorted committees. They’ll no doubt be celebrating tonight.

But Cllr McAtominey didn’t stick around long. After a cheeky vodka and tonic, wife Nancy Maxwell led him to a waiting taxi.

Titbit

Which usually slick councillor was spotted in HMV Sunderland bemoaning the how difficult it was to find old Robson and Jerome CDs? Surely it wasn’t for him…

New Blood

A couple of recent comments have referred to the fact that many of the Independents are former Labour councillors and supporters. This got the Whip thinking.

The political scene in South Tyneside is inbred amongst all parties. Whether it’s couples, cousins, brothers and sisters - everyone knows everyone. Besides, two allowances are better than one…

Which brings the Whip to an interesting point. Are there any public figures in South Tyneside, who have no political affiliations at the moment, who’d be great on the council? The Whip is thinking of business leaders and community leaders, but there are scores more who’d do a fantastic job in the chamber.

Use the comments section for your ideas. The best ones will be approved later.

COMMENT MODERATION IS ON

The Chief Whip has turned comment moderation for the foreseeable future because of a couple of posts.

Recent comments on the Labour Party from Peter Shaw, while light-hearted in their tone, don’t really improve the debate on here.

Some of the references were slightly dodgy too, so for everyone’s sake, comments will be approved and amended where neccesary for the next 48 hours.

The Chief Whip is not amused.