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Sitting councillor facing de-selection
Date published: 18 December 2009
Angela Coric, Liberal Democrat councillor for Milkstone and Deeplish ward, is facing a battle to defend her seat in next May's local elections... from within her own party.
Councillor Coric is facing de-selection by Lib Dems in Milkstone and Deeplish as her ward party members seek to have her replaced by an ethnic minority candidate, though as one of Councillor Coric's supporters has pointed out, as a Serbian, Councillor Coric is from an 'ethnic minority'.
Asked to comment Councillor Coric maintained a dignified silence and refused to do so. Councillor Mohammad Sharif was more disingenuous in claiming to know nothing of the attempt at de-selection despite being ‘kingpin’ at a local meeting in the ward this week where a vote was taken to de-select Councillor Coric.
It is understood that a number of leading Liberal Democrats are unhappy with the decision. The belief is that Councillor Coric is being ousted because she is not from an Asian background in a ward that is predominantly Asian; however, a source close to the Lib Dems in Milkstone & Deeplish refutes the allegation and says the reason is they are “unhappy with Councillor Coric’s performance as a councillor”.
It has been pointed out that the decision taken at the recent meeting cannot, as it is, stand as the meeting was not "legally constituted" - it is conceded that it would though be a very simple matter to reconvene a legally constituted meeting and vote again to de-select Councillor Coric.
Rochdale Online has come under pressure not to publish this article; however, on balance we have taken the decision that the public has an interest in knowing the political processes going on behind the scenes and that transparency can only be good overall for local democracy.
Comments
Looks like the thin end of the wedge to me.
I wouldn't usually comment on inter party politics as I know how rumours start and spread. If this is true and Angela is being de-selected because of ethnicity then it shows just how divided Rochdale really is. If the shoe was on the other foot this would be nothing short of racism.
How was this meeting illegal? And who was putting Rochdale Online under pressure not to publish this article? Who were the Lib Dems who were not happy with this vote? If Rochdale Online want to promote transparency then maybe you should answer the questions. Surely the whole point of democracy are for people to vote and choose who they want.
Deeplish Ward Labour party must be in their element now, Why? Because for a party to de-select a sitting Councillor without a very good reason for doing so is beyond belief. It is true that this is supposedly a democratic decision, but yet no valid reasons have been been given. If as it has been suggested, it is to replace her for an ethnic minority candidate, this is democracy at its worst.
Have Your Say
If Councillor Coric has a good record of attending meetings and carrying out her duties on behalf of the Electorate, then if she is deposed by her own party ward members, they are making her redundant, and they should have to pay redundancy money to her from their own pockets.
I hope and trust common sense prevails and Angela is re-selected to see if the Electorate share the views of her Ward members.
By Eyeballs @ 19/12/2009 10:29:23