REBEL Labour councillor Kevin Bennett, who voted against his own party’s budget for Warrington Borough Council, has won the support of a Labour MP.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, in West London, spoke alongside Cllr Bennett at the “Councillors 
against the cuts” conference in Birmingham.
Cllr Bennett, who represents the Fairfield and Howley ward on the borough council, was at the conference to explain why he had voted against his own party.
He told the conference: “The banks and rail were invested in when they were failing. But now that society is failing they want to pull the plug on the most vulnerable, pushing them ever further into depression, drug abuse, family break ups and suicide.
“This government gave £30 billion of tax breaks to businesses, while cutting welfare and tax credits by £30 billion.
“We all know that growth has ‘flatlined’, that borrowing is up and unemployment has risen, with youth unemployment at its highest for 18 years and women being disproportionately ‘battered’.
“Labour councillors need to be ‘Champions of the Alternative’ and send a strong message of defiance to this Tory-led coalition government and show the people that we have the guts to stand up to them”.
John McDonnell pledged his ‘full support for Kevin and other councillors across the country who voted against the cuts”.
Pictured: Cllr Bennett with MP John McDonnell.
MP backs Labour rebel
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
Pity he can't get the public support from his own M.P. Helen Jones,
This councillor is a total disgrace to his party and to the people of Warrington. In the week that we remember the Warrington bombing of 20 years ago, he is happy to crow on about his support from an MP that has publicly praised the IRA!
It was John McDonnell that said "It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle. It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table. The peace we have now is due to the action of the IRA." I am sure anyone who has seen the work and commitment of Colin and Wendy Parry and the sea change after the Warrington bombing would argue with that statement.
Kevin Bennett has already shared a platform with Ricky Tomlinson, an ex-National Front member, has he got no shame?
What about Helen Jones ?
Well thats one vote then?
The real labour people of this town should be up in arms regarding this latest mess up from councillor Kevin Bennett .
That is atrocious! Politics is about judgment – clearly Clr Bennett has none
Not sure your user name will encourage Labour supporters to listen to you 🙂
The only way out of this mess is to invest in the infrastructure of the country build much needed housing , roads , cuts unemployment with real jobs paying taxes rather than being forced to claim benefits. People using their earnings toto buy services and goods that we provide and produce. That will provide even more jobs its not rocket science.if you keep on taking millions of pounds out of the economy all you will get is unemployment and misery.