The Labour Party in Kempston has been accused of orchestrating a ‘cynical political stunt’ by submitting a petition to its Labour colleagues on Bedford Borough Council’s ruling Executive.
At last week’s meeting of Bedford Borough Council (Wednesday 23rd), a petition from the Kempston Labour Party calling on the Council to refurbish Kempston’s Saxon Centre was debated by councillors. This followed the news that a joint venture headed by Sainsbury’s has pulled out of a deal to purchase the site from the Council and undertake refurbishments.
Cllr Roger Rigby, whilst supporting the aim of the petition, argued that the Labour Party is ‘in the ludicrous situation of effectively petitioning itself’ given that the Council’s Executive contains 4 Labour councillors. He said:
‘This is effectively a petition from the Labour Party to an administration which includes itself. Rest assured the Conservatives will support the long overdue regeneration of the Saxon Centre. However, in all my years as a councillor I think this is the most cynical political stunt and it is not Labour’s best or brightest moment.
‘The Labour councillors are blaming Sainsbury’s for not purchasing the site but the reality is that Labour has controlled most of Kempston’s Borough Council seats for well over 20 years and this petition is a smokescreen to hide their neglect of the Saxon Centre.’