Labour confirm ‘viability’ of Newmark led Hertsmere council coalition being assessed

Hertsmere Labour Group leader Jeremy Newmark is still awaiting the ruling of his party’s national executive committee (NEC) into whether he can enter into a coalition deal with the local Liberal Democrats to run the borough council.

An NEC panel met on Monday to look into the viability of a coalition between a Newmark-led Labour Group and a Lib Dem Group led by councillor Paul Richards.

Clarifying the review process in place for any Labour Group wanting to enter into a coalition after the May 4th local election results a spokesperson for Keir Starmer told Jewish News on Wednesday: “After every set of local elections Labour Groups who haven’t achieved an overall majority but feel they are in a position to be able to form a coalition have to apply to the NEC to get those arrangements signed off.

“There are a range of factors the NEC looks at when making those decisions such as the viability of the coalition, the number of parties, and the relative strengths of the coalitions.”

Starmer’s spokesperson had the process worked on a “case by case basis” and that “some it approves, and some it doesn’t”.

Conservative Group leader Morris Bright told Jewish News that his party would be happy “to work with any councillors of any parties for the good of the borough and its residents” if a planned coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats is blocked.

Bright told Jewish News:”I’ve also read and heard about Labour HQ looking into deals that are being done and have been done between some of their local parties and other parties… in this case in Hertsmere a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

“The phrase undue haste by some local parties springs to mind…but Jeremy Newmark has been so keen to get hold of the reins of power. Good luck to Labour trying to prise them away from him.

“We will need wait to discover exactly what the national Labour Party wishes to do about such coalitions.

“My gut instinct is there will be a lot of hot air but not a lot of action.”

Hertsmere Lib Dem Group leader Paul Richards said he was focussed on a shared administration with Labour adding:” Though at a very early stage in a new shared administration, both groups are focussed on delivering transformative change for Hertsmere residents, mandated by the local election results this month.

“I cannot comment on the internal policies or procedures of other political parties, as I have neither knowledge nor visibility of them.

“The understanding and agreement between ourselves and the other group is a solid framework, forming the basis on which we will prioritize, over the coming weeks and months, important initiatives that will address concerns we have both heard on the doorsteps throughout the election campaign.”

It was reported by the Observer on Sunday that Hertsmere Labour Group had come under scrutiny over claims it had breached party rules by entering into a pre-election pact with the Lib Dems.

On Wednesday sources close to former Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Newmark said claims that he had been told he could not continue as leader in order for any coalition to progress in the borough were an “utter lie”.

The local Labour source added Newmark, who resigned as Jewish Labour Movement chair in 2018 after increasing membership in the organisation, had been placed on a “path to power” course last year by the party for potential leaders.

Local election results earlier this month left Labour and the Lib Dems with more seats in a partnership than the Tories in Hertsmere, although the council remains in no overall control.

Last Wednesday at an annual general meeting of Hertsmere Council a vote went ahead that confirmed Newmark as leader of the council, as part of a partnership agreement with the Lib Dems.

But it subsequently emerged that the vote had taken place before the NEC had completed their investigation into the pact claims.

One Labour source said Newmark’s decision not to delay the vote at the AGM until after the probe was completed had left at least one member of the NEC’s panel “absolutely fuming.”

Local Labour sources suggest the claims of a pre-election pact are “spurious” and suggested the Hertsmere party leadership had acting in the “best interests” of local people by forming an administration.

One source highlighted the words of Labour leader Keir Starmer who has repeatedly spoken of the need to put country before party.

Speaking to Jewish News on Friday, Newmark told how he was “thrilled” to become new leader and promised an “aspirational new green deal” for the borough

A report in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper also confirmed Labour’s NEC was attempting to veto a deal with the Lib Dems in Hertsmere.

One local Labour source told the newspaper:”This has been a Tory area for the last 24 years, and we’ve worked so hard to change that. It’s quite insulting now to be told we can’t get the benefits.”

After the local election Hertsmere Conservatives were left with just 16 council seats, having previously held 29 of the total 39 in the borough.

Labour took 14, while the Lib Dems secured nine, up on the three they previously held, leaving both parties with enough seats to form a coalition, despite the council remaining in no overall control.

Cllr Bright added:”The Conservatives remain the largest single party on Hertsmere at 16 seats and would be very happy to work with any councillors of any parties for the good of the Borough and its residents should that become necessary following any decisions taken by Labour nationally. We shall wait and see.”