Harrow Labour Party in turmoil amid claims of racism

Nine councillors, mostly Asian abandoned the local Labour party in Harrow, North-West London claiming ‘racial elements’ forced the group to split.

Thaya Idaikkadar who was the Leader of the Council said he was not given a reason for the challenge to his Leadership stating,

there were racial elements at play with this challenge."

Mr Thaya Idaikkadar laid claim to be the first Council Leader from Sri Lankan origin in British history.

The situation for the Labour party is worrying on a number of levels: With nine politicians abandoning the party, the Council is left with no overall majority, this in of itself demonstrates that something has gone badly wrong.

The nine disaffected councillors now call themselves the ‘Independent Labour Group’.

On a broader note, Harrow will become a fierce politcal battleground in the 2015 parliamentary elections. At the moment, Harrow West is held by the Labour MP Gareth Thomas and the other seat, Harrow East , is held by the Conservative Bob Blackman. Both seats are held with relatively small majorities numbering around 3000 votes. Equally both seats have BME voters who represent more than 50% of the constituency.

There is no doubt that even before this major political fallout, Harrow would have been subject to a lot of media and party leadership attention - that focus will now be quadrupled.

However,this turmoil also offers those campaigning for a greater BME voice, and more inclusive parties, the ability to demand more of their elected representatives.

Simon Woolley