The Sheffield Labour group has suspended one of its councillors for not voting along party lines on a motion regarding tree felling.
Coun Nasima Akther, who represents the Nether Edge and Sharrow ward, abstained from a vote on a motion put forward at a full council meeting on December 7.
The motion, discussing the controversial tree felling operation in Rustlings Road, was originally put forward by Liberal Democrat group leader Shaffaq Mohammed, and labelled the council’s actions during that incident ‘wholly disproportionate’.
Read on… http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/labour-sheffield-councillor-suspended-for-trees-vote-1-8358539
Rotherham Politics 
Coun Nasima Akther – good for her – she did the right thing.
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She certainly did! Pity there are not more like her taking a stand.
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Yes, classic controlling antics by the same old control freaks.
It is in her ward, on her patch.
How strange, I agree with Reg
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I am sure we agree on many things.
Have you been following this disgraceful story?
STAG. Sheffield Tree Action Groups.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/392913244219104/
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No, but I will now. I put in an offer for a house in that road in 86. Got gazumped. The trees were most grand…
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Goes to prove Labour Councillors represent the party and not the constituents who voted them in to represent their interests on the council
Yes control freaks is the right description
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What a sad situation and an insult to democracy when a political party puts its own interests above those of the people who they were elected to represent. The unwritten understanding, cynically exploited by the political parties, is that people trustingly vote for the person who will represent their wishes and vote for the expressed interest of the voters of that ward or constituency. No respect for the voters who trusted their vote to someone who would represent them and fight for their wishes. Nothing but contempt for those elected representatives who are punished for putting the wishes of the people before that of the political party. Yes, a vote against would have been a more principled vote, but then the elected member would not have been able to fight another day on behalf of those who voted for that person to represent them. The time is long overdue where only independents, who are not puppet-mastered by politically paranoid control-freaks and bullies whose only motivation is power and the personal benefits it bestows upon them, can truly represent and respect the wishes of the voters who previously have misplaced their trust in their representatives. Democracy is dead, and with no elections this year there is no hope of that council changing its ways unless people from outside take over and purge that rotten council.
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This report shows quite clearly the Labour party is undemocratic and unfit to claim it is …’ a democratic, socialist party’
http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/how-we-work
Democracy means the right to freedom of speech and thought-except the Labour party does not accept any dissent. Watch any webcast from RMBC council meetings and see Labour drones in action.
Why do people keep voting for these muppets?
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Colin
As ever, this on-going and disgraceful story is a little bit more complicated than that.
Have you been browsing Rik’s other blog?
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https://sheffieldcitypolitics.wordpress.com Still in early development
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@rr
What is complicated about a Labour councillor being disciplined by her party for having the temerity to abstain from voting?
I’ve always believed abstaining from voting is a fudge, you should have the courage of your convictions and in truth Nasima Akther should have voted against the motion however as a libertarian I recognise and accept she has the freedom to follow her conscience-unlike the Labour party.
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Nasima Akther-and any other Labour councillors subjected to discipline for not voting the ‘right’ way-should tell their colleagues/CLP to read Article 10 ECHR.
Article 10 – Freedom of expression
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
The ‘democratic socialist’ Labour party (which is pro EU) tends to ignore certain parts of the ECHR it disagrees with.
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I visit Sheffield often and I have spoken to the campaigners on numerous occasions. They are fighting against vandalism at its worst.
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