Council’s tsar will be appointed by Hammersmith and Fulham council to stop Brexit

BY OWEN SHEPPARD
Local Democracy Reporter
yann@slpmedia.co.uk

A “lead member for stopping Brexit” will be appointed by Hammersmith and Fulham council.

The role will go to a councillor from the ruling Labour party – which is vehemently pro-Remain.
It was labelled a “silly” stunt by local Tories.

The decision came on Monday last week, after cabinet members were shown a report that predicted “negative impacts” for the local economy if Britain leaves without a deal on October 31.

The report warned that difficulties in finding staff would force them to increase wages for carers by three per cent.

Last week, the council’s head of policy and strategy, Peter Smith, said London could find itself short of builders. And that the viability of major housing developments could be threatened by rising interest rates.

Council leader Stephen Cowan (pictured above) said on Monday: “There is a very clear mandate from the people of Hammersmith and Fulham to stop Brexit.

“I believe from the contacts we’ve had from residents, which are many and numerous, that that position has increased.

“The fault of that position lies at the Government, who were unable to deliver on the Brexit promises made by the Leave campaign.

“It is right and proper, that as the first council that called for a People’s Vote and to oppose Brexit, we should take this very strong step.”

In the 2016 referendum, 70 per cent of Hammersmith and Fulham residents voted Remain. Roughly 30,000 residents out of the borough’s population of 180,000 are EU nationals.

Local Tory party leader, councillor Andrew Brown, called Labour’s announcement a “stunt”.

“Whilst the vast majority of Conservative councillors in Hammersmith and Fulham supported Remain, we are democrats, and recognise that the country voted to leave,” he said.

“As for the decision to appoint a lead member for stopping Brexit, it does seem rather silly. Whilst the most senior politicians and diplomats in the EU and the UK are negotiating to find a deal, I doubt they will be influenced by a councillor from Hammersmith and Fulham.”

He added: “I think most people will see through this as a political stunt from a Labour Party concerned that their incoherent national position on Brexit is losing them support.”

The “lead member” post would be given to a councillor, and is a rank below a cabinet member.

Lead members can receive an additional £5,400 allowance on top of the £8,940 basic allowance given to all councillors.