The Black and White community come out to support Adeline Aina

Labour Party local candidate Adeline Aina was given unprecedented support at a 'special' hearing by the London Labour Party to see if she was of good ‘character’ to stand as a local councillor.

A number of people came to the 'special' hearing including local party activist Belinda Washington and Kevin Craig, but also local community leaders such as the Rev Canon Bowman of St Andrews Church in Stockwell.

On a national level Cllr Patrick Vernon represented BAME Labour and I attended on behalf of Operation Black Vote. The MP Kate Hoey who was going to attend, until the date was moved, sent a glowing letter of support for Adeline.

Since Adeline Aina knocked out Lambeth’s Housing cabinet member councillor Robbins in a democratic selection battle, very powerful people including former Lambeth leader Steve Reed, and present leader Lib Peck have used scurrilous smear campaign in an attempt to remove Aina. It was no surprise given Robbin’s housing links that an investigation into an housing association linked with Aina has been under council investigation.

Just before Christmas, the leader Lib Peck called in Adeline for a ‘girlie chat’, only to tell her ‘you’ve got to stand down’. Council leaders have often ignored due process and fairness in a bid to oust Aina from standing for the party. Kate Hoey MP has been on the record stating that those involved trying to oust Aina ‘have frankly behaved appallingly’.

Adeline’s lawyers provided volumes of evidence which strongly refuted the claims by the council that a housing association had mismanaged the accounts.

Most people are acutely aware this is not about any housing association but bully boy politics to ensure a powerful politician keeps his place.

That an MP, in Her Majesty’s Government, and the leader of a Labour council would seek to destroy a good woman’s character for their own political cabal is reprehensible.

One thing is for sure the community are fully behind Aina. Let’s hope Labour’s London group see this for what it is and ensure Aina is allowed to stand. Then we can put this sorry story behind us.

The result from the ‘special hearing’ is due in the next few days.

Simon Woolley