Hunter and Shooter

Still here, but getting Conservatives elected to H'gey Council comes before blogging!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:09:00 +0000

Hunter hasn't been blogging for a while - energies have, instead, been put into May's local (and national?) elections. Tottenham Conservatives have found some really excellent candidates to fight Labour hard in every ward (see some of our newly-selected candidates, above).

Money is pouring in the form of small donations from local residents.

Blogging costs time. From now until May, blogging will be lite.

Labour in Haringey, though, is still in chaos. Further defections from Lab-to-Cons are likely before May.

Hunter has never been so upbeat about Tory chances in Haringey....

Labour rebels challenge Goldberg and Kober's authority

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

As Hunter has previously reported, two Labour councillors - one senior and another who has just been re-adopted - are in talks with the Lib Dems about defecting. This is a serious challenge to the authority of the Labour Chief Whip and Council Leader.

If Hunter were Labour's Chief Whip, I'd be demanding to know from all my Labour colleagues answers to the following questions:

1. Are you talking to other parties about defecting?

2. Are you committed to the Labour Party and its values?

3. Will you remain a Labour Member until May 2010?

4. Why, in your words, would the Lib Dems be bad for Haringey?

And, preferably, get these answers in writing. Failure to adequately reply to all four should mean the Whip being removed.

Hunter, when thinking of Kober and Goldberg, is reminded of Blair's verdict of John Major in the dying days: "I lead my Party. You follow yours!"

Do they have the courage to take action and reassert their authority?

Excitement last night, after all?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Hunter has just learnt that Reg Rice ( he who has been selected for Tottenham Hale, and 'chair' of the CLP) and George Meehan (of Baby P fame) tried to get the selection list for White Hart Lane re-opened to throw controversial and unpopular councillor Ray Dodds another political lifeline.

Meanwhile, the Hornsey BLP, on the other side of the railway tracks, have suspended their selection process. Not sure what the reasons are -- yet.

Last night

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Hunter's phone went off at 21:17 with news of the White Hart Lane BLP's selection outcome. Unfortunately, wasn't able to blog it then and there as I was at a meeting, which went on very late (followed by dinner and bed!).

Nothing terribly exciting happened in this ward. Charles and Gideon, aka 'Bert and Ernie', got back in. The 'new girl' is from Newham (ex councillor?) and her partner/husband is the Labour candidate for Bruce Grove. Should they both be elected, their household’s income will go up by £20k - excluding SRBs. Nice work if you can get it!

Breaking news...

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Cllrs. Hayley AND Harris have been de-selected in St. Ann's Ward.

The winners of this dirty selection battle? Zena Brabazon and Chris Brown, a new arrival to Haringey.

Hunter predicted Brian's de-selection, but didn't see it happening to Bob...

Racism in St. Ann's BLP?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:10:00 +0000

The dirtiest selection battle taking place in Tottenham is in St. Ann's Ward, where the brothers and sisters have shortlisted FOURTEEN comrades.

Hunter is reliably informed that the white-dominated Branch Labour Party (BLP) has removed the names of up to TWENTY black members from the membership list. Why? Not because they have done anything wrong or that they have allowed their membership to lapse, but their crime was to have been signed up by somebody who later defected to the local Conservatives.

Membership stands at just over 40 people now in a ward that has been, previously, rock-solid Labour and the sole black Labour councillor there is expected to be replaced by a white woman who shall remain nameless given that, she claims, she isn’t a "public figure".

Hunter, always pleased to give good advice, has urged the victims to ask Labour's Regional Committee to investigate their claims which, if proved, could spell the end of Labour's misrule here in Haringey.

It could not have happened to a nicer person

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:54:00 +0000

Fitness coach (stop the sniggers, please!) and Bruce Grove councillor Ray Dodds said the following on Ward's Corner at THE planning meeting (where dopey Labour councillors voted to wreck a thriving community):

"Ward's Corner was a dump, is a dump and will always be a dump".

Hunter is pleased to announce that Doddsie has himself now been DUMPED. Ironically, his replacement is thought to be very sympathetic to the WCC's restoration plans (see previous post).

Hunter still hasn't forgiven the brute for shopping him for 'dumping rubbish' on his, private, estate.

In and Out (so far)

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:32:00 +0000

Out go Cllrs. Thompson and Patel (another councillor, too, whom will feature in Hunter's next post), both hard-working and popular.

In come recycled reject Reg Rice (T'nam Hale), Stuart McNamara (Bruce Grove) and Richard Watson (T'nam Green). Hunter understands that Stuart and Richard are both very sympathetic to the Ward's Corner Coalition and their restoration plans. Sheila won't be a happy woman.

Those at serious risk of being dropped are Cllrs. Hayley and Griffith. Their selections will take place next week. Brian, arguably, is the only articulate member of the Labour Group.

Hunter could understand if 'new blood' was being brought in –smart, educated people who are local and committed to Tottenham. Instead, many of the de-selected members have been replaced by tired old faces that have had their day.

Ellie Levenson sums it up

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Ellie is a member of the Tottenham Green Branch of the Tottenham Labour Party. Here are her 'Tweets' from the past 24 hours on last night's meeting to shortlist candidates for Tottenham Green Ward - makes interesting reading!

Re Labour party ward selection. Now I know why guns not legal in this country. Not sure whether I would shoot Chair or shoot self.about 20 hours ago from Tweetie

I think we should ask central committee to impose candidates. The Great Tottenham Green Putsch of 2009.

Am in hell, also known as the Tottenham Green Ward Labour Party shortlisting meeting.about 21 hours ago from Tweetie

Chaos, mayhem and back-stabbings at last night's shortlistings

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

FOURTEEN comrades have been shortlisted for St. Ann's Ward, including the Brabazon woman.

Recycled councillor Reg Rice was shortlisted for Tottenham Hale (Brabazon didn't apply - maybe she had done a deal with Cllr. Reith?). Rice now the biggest threat to hard-working and popular (but very eccentric) Cllr. Sheik Thompson.

Lazy councillor Ray Dodds (a Peacock apologist) is in serious trouble in Bruce Grove. Front runners there include, Stuart McNamara (having previously stood - and lost - in Alexandra Ward) and Richard Watson, a former 'adviser' to Cllr. Santry (she of Baby P fame)

Cllr. Kaushika Amin is trying to escape Northumberland Park (or could that be a certain other councillor with initials SP?) and applied for White Hart Lane. Not sure if she was successful or not.

Anne, mother of Tim, Waters shortlisted for WHL. A mole tells Hunter that she's even 'posher' than Santry and also hails from the west of the borough. Will White Hart Lane Labour ever learn? Brabazon's and Dodds' applications were soundly rejected here, despite the Dodds' household being signed up to Labour to cast votes at last night's meeting (there is a three-month rule, apparently, which stuffed them!)

A former Newham councillor and wife (or vice-versa?) are hawking around, as is a woman from Tottenham Green whose name I can't pronounce .

More soon!

Update on Labour's local woes

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:11:00 +0000

Cllr. Jayanti Patel, a hard-working councillor for Woodside since 2002, has been ditched by Labour. Four more face the boot.

Nasty personal and homophobic website created by Labour to attack local Conservatives set up, but now closed following police investigation. Current and former Labour councillors allegedly involved with it.

Two FoI requests been put into the Council by a Labour councillor in an attempt to embarrass and smear a fellow Labour councillor.

A certain Seven Sisters councillor has been humiliated in his attempt to introduce an Eruv in the Ward by secular and Muslim colleagues.

Noel Park Labour members furious to discover that of the three of their 'local' council candidates, one works in Clacton-on-Sea and another is trying to become the MP for England's most northern constituency, Berwick.

The lifting of the ban of animals performing in Haringey circuses has been condemned by residents across Haringey. Several Labour members are reported to be willing to quit the Party if the Labour-run Council endorses the Cabinet’s plans at Full Council.

Cllr. Denise Headley (Edmonton Green Ward in next-door Enfield) has joined the Conservatives after being de-selected by outsiders, led by Cllr. George Meehan of Baby P fame.

Haringey Labour been condemned for de-selecting BME councillors by OBV.

Universal outrage as Lammy calls for more money... for, er, himself!

Labour Time Table - when the fun and games begin and end

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:16:00 +0000

All Tottenham wards except Harringay, which has already selected, (and also Horney & Stroud Green wards on the other side of the railway) will meet to shortlist on the evening at which they would usually hold their standard September Branch meeting - that is, on Wednesday 2 September, in the evening. The quorum, by decision of the Local Government Committee, shall be eight.

Following shortlisting, branch secretaries shall notify those persons shortlisted, who shall be able, on delivery to the CLP Secretary of a cheque for £5 per ward made payable to "Tottenham Constituency Labour Party", to have a copy of the membership list for any wards they have been shortlisted in.

Selection meetings will then be held in evenings according to the following timetable:

Wednesday 2 September
Shortlisting meetings in the following Branches:
Bruce Grove, Hornsey, Northumberland Park, Seven Sisters, St Ann's, Stroud Green, Tottenham Green, Tottenham Hale, West Green, White Hart Lane.

Thursday 10 September
Selection meeting for Northumberland Park Branch

Monday 14 September
Selection meeting for Bruce Grove Branch

Tuesday 15 September
Selection meeting for Tottenham Hale Branch

Wednesday 16 September
Selection meeting for Tottenham Green Branch

Thursday 17 September
Selection meeting for West Green Branch

Monday 21 September
Selection meeting for St Ann's and Seven Sisters Branches (shared venue, St Ann's first)

Tuesday 22 September
Selection meeting for White Hart Lane Branch

Tottenham Labour In Meltdown

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:47:00 +0000

Hunter has been told that several Tottenham councillors WILL be de-selected as tonnes of 'NuLab' types are coming down from the N10 Hill to stand here. Why? Because they have almost zero chance of ejecting the Lib Dems in their home turf and see Tottenham as a 'stepping stone' to bigger and better things.

Those on the Approved Labour List include Cllr. Goldberg's wife, Julie Davies' son, Tim Waters' mother and Zena Brabazon, common-law wife of Cllr. Stanton!

Councillors who face de-selection (timetable in following post) are ready to defect to other parties (of all colours) or stand as Independents and, in the process, bring this discredited Labour-run Council down.

Hunter is also reliably told that a row has broken out in the St. Ann's Ward branch of the Tottenham Labour Party. Critics claim that whilst they welcome BME members, they will only do so if they 'know their place'. Anyone who dares to challenge the white ruling elite there is cast into outer darkness and smeared.

Meanwhile, in Northumberland Park relations between Cllrs. Bevan and Peacock have deteriorated so much that they are no-longer on speaking terms. Cllr. Bevan accuses Cllr. Peacock of not being a 'team player' (she is refusing to mention him, allegedly, in all official publications) and they are trying to get one another de-seleceted.

More on these shenanigans to come!

As Hunter has previously said, Jonah Goldberg’s arrival has cursed the Tottenham Labour Party.

Jonah Goldberg curses Labour and everything he touches

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Guido Fawkes calls Gordon Brown 'Jonah Brown'. Why? Because, according to Guido, Brown jinxes everything that he lends support to. For example, Brown sends Andy Murray his "best wishes" then Murray is humiliated on the court; Gordon visits a car maker, then it goes bankrupt the following week. You get the picture.

Hunter thinks Jonah Goldberg's arrival on the scene in Haringey has cursed the local Labour Party, and everything he touches. Here's four examples:

1. Jonah Goldberg turns one of Labour's safest wards in Haringey into their most marginal (over the Conservatives)

2. Jonah Goldberg becomes Chief Whip of the Labour Group and, for the first time in Haringey Labour's history, loses a councillor to the Conservatives.

3. Jonah Goldberg states during Seven Sisters by-election that, unlike the majority of his Labour colleagues, he supports the Ward's Corner Coalition over developer Grainger. Not only did the WCC lose at Planning, they also lost their first attempt in the Royal Courts of Justice to overturn that decision.

4. Jonah Goldberg (pictured) visits West Witney Community Hospital, in Oxfordshire, as David Cameron's Labour opponent. That hospital is now under threat of cuts in vital services.

Dare I now hope that David Lammy will now appoint Cllr. Goldberg to be his Campaign Manager for the General Election? He is a curse on everything he touches.

Eight questions Labour (and their LD chums) can't answer

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Hunter has been really shocked by some of the nasty and personal postings that bitter Labour and jealous Lib Dems have been leaving on various sites (never, of course, using their real names - although one suspect is former Labour councillor Ian Willmore).

If Alan was 'after money' when his Mayoralty ended, why did he turn down a position on O&S (£15,000pa)?

If Alan really is thick, why did they want him to serve on O&S? Do they only allow 'thick' people to scrutinise the Council?

If Alan really is 'thick', why have they allowed him to be a councillor for 18 years? Do they only allow 'thick' people to sit on the Council?

If Alan really is 'thick', why did allow him to become Mayor not only once, but twice? Do they only allow 'thick' people to become the Borough's First Citizen?

If Alan really is 'thick', why did they put into the Cabinet and make him Chief Whip? Do they only put 'thick' people into the Cabinet and make them Chief Whip?

The Fib Dems say that they would not have welcomed Alan, yet their Leader heaped praise on Alan's Mayoralty. Will he remind us what he said only a fe month ago?

The Fib Dems claimed they would not have welcomed Alan (staggering when you consider they took Aitken, Floyd and Oakes in) - so why Did Cllr. Oakes (aka Old Tin Leg) email Alan today to ask why he did not join them?

Why did a senior Labour councillor today email Alan to beg him to return to the Labour benches?

Haringey voters can rightly conclude two things from all of this:

1. Alan has balls and is a man of integrity

2. There are two nasty parties in Haringey - Labour and their LD allies!

That resignation in full. Ouch!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Dear Claire,

Further to our recent meeting, I am now writing today to inform you that with immediate effect that I have resigned from the Labour Party and therefore the Labour whip on Haringey Council.

I will sit as a Conservative Councillor until the Council elections next May.

For you and many others, this will come as a shock and no doubt many will be upset and angry at my decision.

This has been no easy decision, but I believe that urgent change and a fresh start is needed, both for Haringey and Britain. We need at national level a Government that has a sense of purpose and will speak up for the ordinary person, something which Labour seems to have forgotten in recent years.

As a I mentioned to you, I am proud of a lot of what Labour has achieved both locally and nationally, but the recent months has shown how out of touch Labour is – to busy worrying about what positions people will hold and how much to get for it.

I also feel that now in local government that there is no real accountability. “Cabinet local governance” is a sham of 9-10 councillors deciding on what will happen and the majority group follow like sheep. Councillors have lost the chance to properly hold officers and lead members to account but expected to be there mainly as voting fodder, even at the expense of being able to represent one’s own ward.

For many months now I have felt uncomfortable and not at ease in being a Labour Councillor, but let me be clear, although the Liberal Democrats are currently the main opposition on the council to Labour, they do not offer a real alternative to Labour. Their councillors are mainly a coalition of anti-Labour at any cost. Let me assure you, as a Conservative Councillor I will vote against Labour in the Council Chamber when it is right, not because I am no longer Labour.

You must believe me when I tell you that this is the hardest political decision of my life. I have been proud to be a Labour activist with 27 years unbroken membership, but like almost everyone else seeing Labour MPs trying to make stupid expense claims has left me ashamed as power and corruption seems to have gone to the heads of too many Labour MPs who ought to know better.

I want to make clear, on a personal level I have no dispute with the vast majority of my former Labour colleagues and under your leadership wish them well. However, the run-up to the recent group annual meeting and being asked by some to go for different positions to ensure that I would get extra money left me disgusted. I sincerely hope that people do not think that I am a Councillor for the money, because this is an insult to my integrity and all that I stand for.

As I have said in a letter to local party members, to those who have campaigned for me and voted for me over the years as a Labour candidate and Councillor, I am truly sorry if you feel that I have betrayed your trust. As I have said, this has not been an easy decision, but I want a better way for Haringey and Britain and the Conservatives, under David Cameron’s leadership has changed and recognised its past mistakes and I want to be part of that progressive Conservative alliance that will help the residents of Noel Park and the country that I am not ashamed to say that I love.

Finally, I will continue to serve as a Councillor for Noel Park until next May and put the needs of Noel Park first, be that local residents, residents associations, community and voluntary groups and local businesses, whilst ensuring that the thousands of Conservative voters in Haringey now have a voice on the council.

I hope wherever possible to work with the other two Noel Park Councillors and I will not attempt to put party politics ahead of getting what is best for Noel Park. I may no longer be Labour, but my passion for Noel Park remains as strong today as it ever was.

From the bottom of my heart, thank-you for giving me the chance to serve as a Councillor, as a Labour Councillor, for the friendship and support which has meant so much to me over the years and hopefully when the dust has settled you will come to understand why I have left Labour for the Conservatives today.

With all good wishes,

Councillor Alan Dobbie,
Councillor for Noel Park ward.

Negative comments are welcome, but people have to use their real names with a tracable IP address. If you're not willing to 'play ball', don't waste your time. Hunter.

Facebook is two-faced, hypocritical, inconsistent and anti-Anglican, according to His Grace

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:37:00 +0000

These exchanges of emails are priceless. Even Dr. James, a devout atheist and secularist, thinks His Grace got the 'upper hand' of Facebook.

What do they have to hide?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:00 +0000

The Liberal Democrats would like us to believe that they are the party of "open government" and "freedom of information". Strange, then, that the only Members of Haringey Council not to publish their declarations on-line in the Register of Members' Interests are all, er, Lib Dem (Aitken, for it is Him, again, Mughal and Reid)!

Makes you wonder what they have to hide? If, as Hunter suspects, Lib Dem spinners say the answer is "nothing", then why not publish the information on-line so we can all judge for ourselves?

Rat joins sinking ship

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:07:00 +0000

More here.

General Election Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Cllr. Goldberg has no shame

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:47:00 +0000

Seven Sisters' Cllr. 'Joe' Goldberg knows no bounds. This is a man who shamelessly uses his religion to gain kudos with the Jewish community in his ward (majority 63 over Isaac Revah's Conservatives!)

Goldberg shamelessly wears his Yarmulke when he's in the area and at Full Council (where two Jews can see him from the public gallery) and then promptly takes it off when he's safely out of sight. Can you imagine a Christian removing his Crucifix when leaving a Church? Rumour now has it that Goldberg is shamelessly going to grow a beard to look more Heimisher.

Cllr. Goldberg, if you took your religion seriously you would keep Kosher,and would wear your Yarmulke all year round - not just at election and civic times! It's all fercockt!

The Heimisher community are not fools.

Is Neil "The Humourless Bitch" Williams having a dig at Ron?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:39:00 +0000

An extraordinary post has appeared on Cllr. Williams' website, called "Defectors: I'm not an enthusiast".

He thunders on: "Based on my own experience, I'm not keen. Genuine political conversions do of course happen, but they’re not common" Meow!

Hunter suspects this was a dig at fellow 'Lib Dem' councillor, Ron Aitken. Ron, as you will recall from a previous post, started life as a Conservative. Then he joined the Scottish National Party, went back to being a Conservative, left again and stood as an Independent (for Archway ward, which now, ironically, makes up most of Cllr. Williams' own Highgate ward!), acted as the Agent for the Pro-Life Alliance in the Croydon North West by-election, rejoined the Conservatives, got a job at the House working for an Ulster MP, joined the Orange Order and the UUP (it could have been the DUP, I forget) and then, in 2001 opportunistically joined the Lib Dems. It can't be long, statically, before Ron starts applying to join the Green or, even, New Labour.

Cllr. Williams is, though, right. Defections are rarely based on policy.

Labour people - then and now

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:06:00 +0000

Hunter has been poorly (a nasty chest infection, coupled with an asthma attack) and so spent most of the Bank Holiday Weekend laid up in front of the telly watching coverage of the '79 General Election. Saturday, May 4th being the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher entering Downing Street as PM.

I was particularly struck (and, it would seem, many other bloggers were too!) by how decent a man Jim Callaghan was. He stepped into Harold Wilson's shoes (1976) when everything was already going down the pan and was doing a fair job of stabilising things until his old mates in the trade union movement (especially Moss Evans of of the transport workers) stabbed him in the back by inflicting the Winter of Discontent upon the country and thus making Labour unelectable for a generation.

It's a shame that Callaghan's name is forever associated with that, rather than the blame being laid 4-square at the door of the union dinosaurs. Still, Mrs T understood who was to blame, didn't she? And so had the nation's support when she went on a slash-and-burn rampage over the nasty Spanish practices and privileges of the unions over the years that followed. But, much as I love and admire her, Margaret didn't have the personal warmth or charm of Callaghan, did she? If it hadn't been for the 'Winter of Discontent', Callaghan, affectionately known as "Sunny Jim" would almost certainly have won the '79 election.

Hunter has always thought that there are decent people in the Labour Party. But they're a dieing breed. Locally, Hunter can think of Alan Dobbie (the Mayor), former MP Barbra Roche and the late Fred Knight as good guys. Joanne McCartney, our 'LAM', is pretty decent too. David Lammy, in contrast, is ghastly, truly terrible: an arrogant, often ignorant, lazy, ill-mannered lobby-whore. (Hey! No-one ever accused me of pulling my punches!) He is the worst politician, of any party, Hunter has ever had the misfortune to meet. For me, opposition to Lammy is personal--and this is a feeling that is fast-becoming the norm in Tottenham amongst his constituents.

Callaghan and his old general secretary of the Labour Party (whom we also saw interviewed in the 79 election coverage) would both have been truly shocked, saddened and disgusted with those McBride emails. And people, I suspect, would have believed him. But nobody believes that bitter buffoon squatting in Downing Street and calling himself 'Prime Minister' thirty years on.

Big brother is watching you

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:34:00 +0000

For a party that purports to believe in democracy and liberalism and, as such, be against New Labour's 'surveillance state', Hunter brings you news of some strange antics of Haringey Lib Dems.

Richard Merrin, the energetic Conservative candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green, set up a street stall in Muswell Hill to meet the voters. Nothing odd about that, I hear you say. Quite! But along came 3 Lib Dem councillors taking pictures of the stall, of Richard and his supporters.

Do the Lib Dems really think they own Muswell Hill and that no other party should dare to campaign there? Where they acting on behalf of the state? All very strange and a little creepy (not to mention Stalinist), dontcha think?

Has Aitken been dropped from Crouch End?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin Hinchcliffe) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:24:00 +0000

That's the rumour doing the rounds on Hunter's return from Oman. Apparently, he has been deselected and moved to Bounds Green, a ward the Lib Dems are set to lose. Can anyone confirm this rumour?

According to my little yellow bird, the Lib Dems can't get anymore "millage" from his Conservative-Lib Dem defection and that they are embarrassed by his bizarre contributions at Full Council.

If true, fellow Lib Dem Dave Winskill, also Crouch End, must be over the moon!