Harrow Labour Group splits, as several councillors form “Independent Labour Group”

Nine councillors have left Harrow Labour Group to form an “Independent Labour Group”, it has emerged. After Councillor David Perry successfully challenged council leader Thaya Idaikkadar at the group’s AGM – taking control of the Labour Group, the local party has been split – leading to today’s announcement of a breakaway Labour Group.

Labour previously had 34 councillors in the Labour Group, with 25 Tory councillors – so a breakaway group potentially puts Harrow Council in to No Overall Control.

Cllr Krishna James, chairperson of the Independent Labour Group told us this afternoon:

“It is with great regret that we have to form the Independent Labour Group. It was impossible to ignore the lack of fairness, equality and justice and attempts to resolve matters have not been successful. The Independent Labour Group subscribes to Labour values and its members remain members of the Labour Party.”

We’ll bring you more on this when we have it.

Update: Thanks to the Harrow Observer – here’s the list of the 9 councillors who have split away from the Labour Group, and the current political make-up of Harrow Council:

Thaya Idaikkadar

Krishna James

Husain Akhtar

Asad Omar

Nana Asante

Zarina Khalid

Raj Ray

Nizam Ismail

Mano Dharmarajah

HARROW COUNCIL’S POLITICAL MAKE-UP:

Labour 25

Conservative 25

Independent Labour 9

Independent 3

Liberal Democrat 1