In a dramatic political shift, a long-serving West London councillor has defected from the Labour Party to the Liberal Democrats, delivering a pointed warning to her former colleagues that she "know[s] where the bodies are buried" ahead of the upcoming local elections.
Defection After 28 Years of Labour Service
Kate Crawford, the East Acton councillor, ended her 28-year tenure with Labour this week to join the Ealing Liberal Democrats. This move came after she was blocked from standing as a Labour candidate in the forthcoming local elections, a decision she attributes to her history of publicly challenging the administration's policies.
Questioning Authority Leads to Exclusion
Crawford explained her approach to governance, stating, "We have had some sensitive issues and I just do as I always do, I try, I question, in order to fill in any gaps, to give officers the opportunity and the Cabinet members to fill in the gaps and make reports robust." She believes this commitment to scrutiny led to her deselection, though she clarified, "I wasn't deselected. I was told I could not stand as a Labour councillor in the ward that I have served for 28 years. But I could in future years."
Initially, she appealed the decision to Labour's national committee, hoping for reinstatement, but ultimately chose defection just weeks before the election, citing her political ambitions.
A Stark Warning to Labour
When asked for a message to the Ealing Labour Group, Crawford responded, "I wish them well, but obviously I'm ambitious and I want to win my ward - that's the job of a politician and I'm going to do it. I hope we can do it in a fair and reasonable way, but if people want to be difficult, I know where the bodies are buried." This cryptic remark suggests she possesses insider knowledge that could impact the election campaign.
Liberal Democrats Welcome New Member
Cllr Malcolm, Leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, welcomed Crawford, highlighting a contrast in political culture. He criticized the Labour council, saying, "I would say the Labour council here has not trusted scrutiny, it hides away from difficult questions… So when a councillor occasionally does that, they don't like it, they don't expect it. But actually, we should have all scrutiny committees, whoever runs them… to, when someone raises a problem, treat it as something you fix and not get embarrassed by it."
With Crawford's addition, the Ealing Liberal Democrats now boast eight councillors, strengthening their position in the borough.
Labour's Response and Electoral Context
A spokesperson for the Ealing Labour Group defended the party's procedures, stating, "The Labour Party has thorough selection procedures and sets high standards and expectations of probity and personal integrity for all its elected members and candidates for elections. These processes are undertaken according to the Labour Party's rules. It does not comment on the outcome of these procedures."
In the 2022 local elections, Crawford won her seat with 2,065 votes, surpassing the Liberal Democrat candidate by over 1,700 votes. The Lib Dems finished fourth in the ward behind the Green Party and Conservatives. Despite this history, Crawford expressed confidence in winning the ward for her new party in May, noting, "Yeah, I'm in it to win it and do my best. I'm well known, my residents know me and I'm a hard worker."
Implications for West London Politics
This defection underscores ongoing tensions within Labour and could signal a shift in West London's political landscape. As the local elections approach, Crawford's move and her warning add a layer of intrigue, potentially influencing voter perceptions and party strategies in Ealing and beyond.
