Charlotte Newton TWO long-serving Labour cabinet members on Haringey Council have not been selected to stand again for election in May, signalling a new dawn in local politics. Cllr Brian Haley, cabinet member for the environment and conservation, and Cll

Charlotte Newton

TWO long-serving Labour cabinet members on Haringey Council have not been selected to stand again for election in May, signalling a new dawn in local politics.

Cllr Brian Haley, cabinet member for the environment and conservation, and Cllr Bob Harris, cabinet member for resources, have not been chosen to stand again in St Ann's ward by grass-roots members of the Labour Party.

Cllr Haley told the Broadway: "I've represented St Ann's as a Labour councillor for 16 years and I've always been in the environmental portfolio. But I'm not shocked because I expected it.

"All I can say is that as one door closes another one opens and I'm keeping all my options open. A day is a long time in politics."

Cllr Haley said he was most proud of promoting the green agenda and encouraging families to recycle more.

"Haringey has led on the recycling issue, not just for the borough but for the whole of London."

He said that he had "managed" the issue of controlled parking zones and residents being forced to buy permits to park outside their homes because of an increase in commuters parking in residential areas.

"I think once people realised that controlled parking zones are not a tax but a realistic way of allowing residents to park outside their homes, people's mindsets changed and they came on board."

Cllr Bob Harris, 64, has represented St Ann's for 27 years. After the meeting for party members at The Triangle Centre in Seven Sisters ward, he said: "I'm reflecting on matters and have no further comment to make."

Labour councillors Sheik Thompson for Tottenham Hale, Ray Dodds for Bruce Grove and Jayanti Patel for Woodside ward have also not been selected to stand again.

A source close to the Labour Party said: "It's ironic that when New Labour is in decline nationally it seems to have suddenly appeared in Haringey.

"Part of the reason why so many long-serving councillors have not been re-selected could be because a lot of them were of the traditional Labour Party whom the New Labour Party activists do not like."

Meanwhile, Cllr Liz Santry who resigned as cabinet member for children and young people's services after the Baby Peter case has said she will not stand again as a councillor for White Hart Lane.

Cllr Harry Lister has also announced that he does not wish to stand again in Tottenham Green ward.