LABOUR GROUP NOMINATE CLLR HEALEY

The Dame says there is plenty of rationality here in promoting a bit of exceptionalism.

My purpose in speaking tonight is to propose Cllr. Pat Healy as the next Mayor of the Borough. 

    

Given Pat’s obvious qualities this is not an onerous task.

Amongst Pat’s Qualities are: 

• Length of Service (  24 years by the end of her current term ), 
• Detailed knowledge of her brief ( Pat has steadfastly led for us on Adult Services and Health for many years and in the current National predicament, her wisdom deserves a National and not just a local Hearing ( I note especially  her advocacy of Free Social Care and the overdue Integration of Social Services and Health )    Councillors.....unlike some of us Pat is NOT  ‘’a  Sounding Gong’’ or someone who leaps to their feet at every opportunity . 
• When Pat Speaks, she speaks with authority  and because she chooses her themes and interventions sparingly,  she is always listened to carefully (And Not just because she speaks quietly!) 

Councillors, I believe that Pat Healy’s Greatest qualities are Steadfastness, Principles and Loyalty.

( She first Campaigned  for the Labour Party at the age of 13 and has been a loyal Party member ever since .  Pat has had a distinguished Career  as a Journalist – and a Journalist with a National Name.   Since 1986 Pat has been known  known throughout the profession and the Labour Movement  as ‘A leading  Wapping  Refusenik’.  

Madam Mayor... I realise that half the Tory benches were still in Nappies when Wapping happened so perhaps some explanation may be necessary here. Pat as a well-known  Times Journalist refused to cross the picket lines when Rupert Murdoch smashed the print Unions and moved production to Wapping. As such she sacrificed her career to try to preserve decent and independent Journalism . Pat was the first Chair of the National Union of Journalist’s  ( NUJ )Ethic’s Council which set out to encourage journalists to seek to tell the truth and to be honourable and ethical in their pursuit of News .  Councillors, if Pat Healy had been listened to when Margaret Thatcher colluded with Rupert Murdoch to tame and distort print journalism there would have been no need  for any Leveson Inquiry or two part report . And Journalism  over the last 30 years would have been better able to serve its constitutional function.  

MM Pat Healy has carried forward her values and concerns into her time as a Councillor in  the borough . She is a stickler for proper practice and the following of rules and procedures  ( Sometimes to the irritation of those  like me ,with a tendency to cut corners ).  But fellow councillors these rare and undervalued qualities are just what we need in the Mayor of the Royal Borough . Someone who will stand up for free speech and curb the pretensions of an over-mighty Executive 

Not all Councillors , even within my own group value : Experience , Relevant Knowledge, Decency and a terrier like holding fast to Truth and Steadfastness but if Councillors really value these qualities as much as I - you will have no hesitation in voting for Pat Healy tonight as the First Labour Mayor and the First Mayor to Represent North Kensington .

Two brief final Points  Madame Mayor .   

In nominating Cllr Healy, I am in no way denigrating Cllr Hargreaves . There is little wrong with him and if we lacked better candidates,  he would be acceptable. 

It’s just that Cllr Healy has more to offer.

Finally, can I make a point that I have made many times before . 

The office of Mayor is supposed to be above politics – But Never in the History of the Borough of Kensington & Chelsea has there ever been anything but a Conservative Mayor .   The Borough is blessed with 6  Labour councillors who are more than 60 years of age and some of us have 20 or 30 years’ experience as councillors. Isn’t it time we had a  fair share of this office ?   

Some of us have been Deputy Mayors and I do not think we let down the borough when fulfilling that office . 

But frankly we are fed up with “always being the bridesmaid and never the blushing Bride” !

Councillors lets go for broke tonight and elect a brave and distinguished Labour , Female,  Mayor who represent far North Kensington . 

Let us have Pat Healy as this year’s Mayor....

Cllr Robert Atkinson