Racism Festers in Lambeth Labour

Lambeth Labour Party have plumbed the depths of political chicanery by seeking to unconstitutionally remove a black woman from her directly elected position as local councillor candidate for the Larkhall Ward in Lambeth’s forthcoming local elections.

The story of a local black woman Adeleline Aina's trails and tribulations is one that should shock all real Labour Party members to their core.

What she could not have realised at the time is that she had taken on the local Labour aristocracy. A small but powerful clique of neoliberal careerist’s, who had become hell bent on destroying a young black woman, whose only crime was to beat, fair and square in democratic elections, the powerful and high profile Cllr Peter Robins. Since that day till this the result has been violently rejected by Lib Peck leader of Lambeth Labour and her small circle of supporters and what happened next was quite extraordinary.

Below is an outlined chronology of racism and a gross abuse of power. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, and such behaviour will carry on unless we as a community say no!

March 2013

• 2nd March Adeline was interviewed to be a Candidate by the Local Campaigns Forum-The LCF
• March Adeline was long-listed in Lewisham for MP.

April 2013

• 7th April Adeline was rejected as a Candidate by the LCF.

May 2013

• 7th May Adeline appealed to Region and won.

It was after Adeline and won her appeal and was free to stand for selections that a Freedom of information inquest revealed the Housing Dept which was headed by Cllr Pete Robbins instigated an Inquiry into the Housing Trust Ms A Aina has some involvement with.

Adeline was shortlisted to stand in one of four Wards, one of which was Larkhall – the ward of the Cabinet Member for Housing in Lambeth Cllr Pete Robbins.

July 2013

• 3rd July Adeline is selected in Larkhall, unseating Cllr Robins
• 11th July The LCF call Aina for a re-interview in order to question her ‘suitability’. The reason for questioning her suitability is said to be found in a unpublished housing report instigated by the Dept of Cllr Pete Robbins
• Regional office confirm that the LCF action was unlawful and unconstitutional.
• A Freedom of information enquiry revealed that the unpublished report into the housing association was is re-distributed to some members

Dec 2013

A report instigated from Cllr Pete Robbins the Cabinet Member for housing’s department is published based on a ’Special Review’ the Housing company to which A Aina is associated

Jan 2014

• The report is currently being challenged at the High Court through Judicial Review proceedings for its inaccuracies and omissions.
• Based upon a report which personally exonerates Adeline Aina of any financial wrong-doing, but, however, is being challenged in the courts for gross inaccuracies, Lambeth Campaigns Forum have asked Adeline to attend an interview on her suitability based upon that contested report.

As seen on this website BAME Labour, and senior MP’s Keith Vaz and Kate Hoey have raised serious concerns over the appalling treatment of Adeline. But what about Chuka Unmanna the most senior Black politician in the Labour Party and local MP? A deafening silence!

No doubt Lambeth Labour will demand that their remaining black members should publically defend the indefensible. Chief among who fail to speak about rank racism inside the Lambeth Labour is GMB member Cllr Florence Nosegbe.

Currently Deputy Cabinet member for Housing, and a close colleague of Cllr Peter Robbins, Florence has distinguished herself by her unashamed eagerness to defend the indefensible in exchange for securing her own career at the expense of other black women.

The fact is, Lambeth is not an isolated example, across the country I am inundated with complaints from Labour Black members who are suffering after being victimised just like Adeline.

Victim of a white-led witch hunt, abandoned by those who profess total and undying commitment to the cause of justice and equality, stabbed in the back by her black women colleagues, endured the public ruin of her political and professional reputation, Adeline Aine case shines a bright light on the grubby seedy underworld of Lambeth Labours power mad, white cabal, disgracefully supported by the utter silence of some and the open collusion with racism, by others.

The effects on local elections will be profound for Labour unless this issues is resolved in a fair, just and transparent manner. I for one will be watching who does what when.

BAME Labour and others should be calling for an investigation for an abuse of power from those pursuing this pernicious vendetta against Adeline Aina.

Lee Jasper
Local Lambeth resident