REBEL councillor Kevin Bennett looks set to appear on BBC 1’s Sunday Politics show this weekend.
The former Labour councillor, who resigned from the party last month following a series of disagreements with the ruling Labour group on Warrington Borough Council, was interviewed for the programme yesterday. It is due to be screened at 11am on Sunday.
Cllr Bennett announced earlier this week that he is to stand as a Parliamentary candidate in the key Warrington South seat.
He will be going head-to-head with Labour’s Nick Bent, standing as a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).
Warrington South is a key marginal and one of Labour’s target seats if it is to form a government after the May 7 election.
Conservative MP David Mowat faces opposition from Mr Bent and also Liberal Democrat Cllr Bob Barr.
But Cllr Bennett’s intervention could prove damaging to the Labour challenge.
TUSC was set up in 2010, co-founded by the late Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT transport workers’ union.
Its purpose is to enable trade unionist, community campaigners and socialists to come together on a common platform to challenge the pro-austerity unity of the establishment parties at the ballot box.
Cllr Bennett has been an outspoken critic of both government and borough council cuts.
Announcing his intention to stand in the election, he said: “I want to give the people of Warrington South a REAL choice, because one thing is clear about the outcome of the 2015 General Election, whichever one of the ‘establishment’ parties, or even a coalition, wins, they will continue with policies favouring the rich, and austerity for the rest of us.
“The people of Warrington South deserve the chance to vote against austerity.”
However, Town Hall watchers have noted that Cllr Bennett’s power base is in Warrington North and believe that his decision to stand in the Warrington South constituency suggests his main aim is to damage Labour’s chances in a marginal seat.
When he resigned from the Labour Group, Cllr Bennett claimed he had been subjected to almost five years of “bullying and intimidation” by other members of the group.
Rebel councillor set to appear on TV
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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.
