Greenwich’s Labour councillors have been ordered not to express their support for the Green candidate in this month’s by-election in Shooters Hill.
The extraordinary warning came as organisers of hustings taking place this weekend said that Labour had not responded to a request to take part – even though all six other candidates had pledged to show up.
The by-election was called after Labour councillor Ivis Williams quit because she was threatened with suspension from the party for speaking up for residents in her ward who had filed petitions opposing the sale of council-owned land.
The sites included Green Garth, a bungalow that the Shrewsbury House community centre had been in talks with the council about taking on, the other was the Greenwich Equestrian Centre, an Olympic legacy project that was opened by Princess Anne in 2013.
Williams had asked for sales to be delayed so residents could put their own bids together. Labour responded by launching an investigation into her conduct, claiming she had publicly criticised agreed party policy – something she denies.
She is now backing Tamasin Rhymes, the Green Party candidate, in the election, to be held on June 26. Labour is standing Jummy Dawodu.
Liz Ige, a Woolwich Common councillor and Labour’s chief whip, warned her colleagues not to follow suit in an email sent to councillors’ town-hall addresses on Tuesday.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been out campaigning for our brilliant Labour candidate Jummy Dawodu during the by-election,” she wrote. “Your continued efforts will ensure that we will elect a local Labour champion who will make an incredible addition to our Labour group.
“I also want to remind everyone that when engaging with residents on the doorstep, at events or online/WhatsApp groups, it is expected that we speak in support of our Labour candidate, not the opposition. This is not just a matter of party loyalty but a fundamental requirement of our role as Labour councillors.
“Publicly endorsing or campaigning for opposition candidates is a clear breach of Labour Party rules and undermines the collective work we are doing to deliver local change for our communities here in the borough.”
Labour sources reacted to the email, which was signed “in solidarity”, with disbelief. “Who would be as stupid as to drum up support for a rival candidate?”, one said.
Another said: “I can’t believe how badly the local party is being run. It never used to be like this.”
Other sources in the area say that Labour officials have told Dawado not to engage with organisers of local hustings, which will give residents a chance to hear from and meet those standing to be their councillor.
Lara Ruffle Coles, one of the organisers, told The Greenwich Wire that six of the seven candidates had agreed to take part – but Labour had not responded.
“The level of community engagement for the hustings has been brilliant and really supportive,” she said. “We’ve flyered and put posters up across the entire ward with a team of 15 volunteers, which is just fantastic.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the hustings and we think turnout will be high as residents really seem to care about our ward.
“I’m also appreciative of the timely and positive responses we’ve had from six of the seven candidates standing on June 26. Unfortunately we’ve had no engagement from the Labour candidate or local party to date.”
London Labour did not respond to a request for comment on the email from Ige or the party’s apparent decision not to engage with the hustings.
Labour has been in power in Greenwich since 1971 and currently has 49 councillors, against four Conservatives and one independent.
Rhymes, the Green candidate, said: “Local politics is in a bad state if the dominant party in the borough is only concerned with itself and not the residents their councillors are supposed to be representing.
“This by-election has been caused by the sanctioning of a councillor who acted with integrity. It is vital we protect local democracy and this by-election is a chance to remind the Labour Party in Greenwich who their councillors are paid to represent. If elected as a Green Party councillor I will call them to account on this.”
Five other candidates are standing alongside Rhymes and Dawodu. The Conservatives, who came a distant second at another by-election last year, are fielding Tim Waters, while Paul Banks is representing Reform UK. Kirstie Shedden is the Liberal Democrat candidate.
Two independents are also standing: Arnold Tarling, who has documented his work cleaning up tatty parts of Eltham’s public realm on social media, and Nazia Tingay, who is standing on a pro-Palestine ticket.
Tingay’s agent, Timothy Parkin, told The Greenwich Wire: “Obviously Labour have decided they’ll lose votes by not showing up, but will lose more votes if they do.”
The hustings are being held on Saturday at Shrewsbury House (1pm) and on Sunday at Barnfield Hub (4pm).
Updated at 4.40pm on Friday to include a quote from Nazia Tingay’s campaign.
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