PAUL DALE’S DIARY

23-04-2008

The Stirrer yields to no one in his admiration for the Birmingham Post’s Public Affairs editor Paul Dale. But has he been suckered by the architect of Andy Howell’s failed mission to return to politics? One Labour activist thinks so.

Attempts were made to parachute Howell into the Kingstanding ward for the forthcoming local elections when Catherine Grundy announced her decision to step down in late March.

The deal was brokered by long time party activist Hugh McCallion – also a good friend of this website.

As we revealed earlier this month, Labour blocked the deal at regional level, not least because Howell has disappeared from view since a failed challenge to Sir Albert Bore’s leadership several years ago (see link here).

Lack of activism and the fact that he had made powerful enemies cost him dear – so Grundy withdrew her resignation and decided to stand again.

That seemed to be that, until Dale wrote yesterday that – in McCallion’s view at least – this was the beginning of another attempt to topple Bore (Paul Dale at the Post)

Unprompted, we received this missive from a foot-slogging Labour activist, who took great exception to the article. We print his letter in full, without comment:

“So, the treatment of Howell by the regional office has appalled many Labour figures in Birmingham, has it?

“Apart from Cath and Hugh, name five. Far more have been infuriated by the cavalier attitude of Hugh, Cath and Andy who appear to think that they own the seat.

“For once, the interview board and the regional board (not the regional office – different beasts) actually did the right and proper thing – they rejected somebody who has been invisible at the sharp end of Labour politics for a few years.

“Everybody has to complete a form detailing their party activities and they are also required to participate in compulsory Group activities.

“One of the reasons why Howell - a former deputy council leader - was denied a place on the panel of election candidates, it is rumoured, was his reluctance to spend his spare time pushing party literature through letter boxes. A very convenient excuse, I am sure you will agree.

“Nope, entirely reasonable and I’m actually insulted by the attitude that shows towards the candidates, councillors and members who have spent their Sunday mornings tramping the streets of Birmingham to support their comrades across the city.

“Involvement in this Labour Group activity is compulsory and I’m sorry that Andy is clearly too good to get involved with it. Why should anyone – no matter how good their pedigree – insist on being able to walk into a safe seat?

“Albert has his faults – I’d like to see us opposing more than we have done over the past few years, but I think he’s refocused a little now – but he’s out there doing the hard graft shoving leaflets through doors.

“He’s showing leadership by doing that – if Andy or Hugh doesn’t think that’s a worthwhile occupation, then they don’t deserve to be approved candidates.

“Getting the message across to the voters is essential and if somebody won’t lead from the front, they won’t have the respect of the troops.

“Yes, that means getting out in the wind and the rain in Shard End or Aston or Tyburn on a Sunday morning, but you shouldn’t join the Labour Party if you can’t take a joke. Maybe it was a plot by region to keep him out, but Andy’s inaction gave them the bullets to fire.

“And this isn’t motivated by a desire to defend Albert, but an anger that us grassroots workers – the ones who give up our time and money to keep the flag flying in some of the darker parts of the city.

“I don’t have much spare time, but I willingly give up some of it to help the party, because I still believe in what we do and the attitude of some ‘senior’ members of the local party over this nauseates and angers me and other ordinary members.”

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