GRUNDY: WHY I HAVE TO STAND

09-05-2008

Birmingham councillor Cath Grundy has told The Stirrer she’s decided to stand for election as Sir Albert Bore’s deputy to encourage a “more inclusive” style of leadership.

Grundy will vie with Ian Ward tomorrow to become Bore’s Number 2 in the city’s opposition Labour party, despite being on the verge of quitting politics just a few weeks ago.

She admits that at the time, “the Labour group didn’t seem to be going anywhere”.

Following their latest election reverse, losing six seats to the Tories, Grundy says it’s time for a change at the top.

“People have been spreading the rumour for a long time that ‘Cath IS going to do something.’  That wasn’t true.  They’ve just said it because I’m a strong personality and I don’t toe the line.

“But we haven’t been working as a group as effectively as we could in opposition, and that needs to improve.

“By standing I can open a debate.  We need to be more inclusive so that everyone in the group can have a say and feel they are listened to.

“My focus is not power and forming alliances, but politics – actually making a difference to people’s lives.  But sometimes you need the power to be able to do what you want to do.”

Grundy insisted that she has now reduced her professional workload which would allow her to carry out the deputy leaders job if elected – and she’s confident of securing more than the half dozen votes we've predicted.

As we reported earlier, Sir Albert is backing his current deputy Ian Ward, who has held the post since 2005 (see link here)

The Stirrer also understands from Labour party sources that at least one other plot to undermine Sir Albert was worked up over the last year by disgruntled backbench councillors, but this appears to have fizzled out - at least for the time being.

You can get the first details of the deputy leadership election on THE STIRRER FORUM tomorrow, with full analysis on our home page on Monday.

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