You will probably be aware by now that it was a clean sweep for Labour who now hold all 72 seats despite 45 years of failure, fraud, corruption and incompetence. This blog is not going to be a list of the results but an indication of some of the main themes arising from the evening. (Labour may soon be down to 71 as Cllr White is believed to face imminent suspension. Jedward faces disciplinary investigations and one other Councillor is alleged to be in hot water for advising voters NOT to vote for Yvonne Davies, the victor of Langley).
Hosells Crash and Burn!
You couldn't help but laugh Thursday night as the Hosells were humiliated. Dave's "girlfriend" Cllr Caroline White was gamely at their side as their treachery was exposed and their disloyalty and greed finally did for them.
The former "leader" Squealing Eling unleashed civil war within the Sandwell Labour Group. He called his rimmers "the light side" and any Party members who opposed his tyrannical will, "the dark side". MP's Spellar and Watson backed the snivelling sh*t to the hilt.
Eling told me to my face that Hosell was unfit for a Cabinet position but he gave him a post (and the money that went with it) anyway to get Dave'n'Shirl on "the light side". Dave willing dropped to his knees to kiss Eling's ring and he and his vicious, snarling, wife have now paid the price.
Dave is alleging widespread fraud by Labour during the eight years he has been, er, a councillor and then cabinet member, but has not come up with a shred of evidence. This is probably because the secretive Eling never told anyone anything outside his immediate coterie. It is highly likely that even as a Cabinet member Dave actually knows f*ck all (he couldn't even answer a simple specific question from the Skidder recently).
Shirl was humiliated in Great Barr and Yew Tree. Dave polled better in Newton but, alas for him, there was no "swinger" vote [geddit?]
LGBTQ+
One piece of good news is that there are now at least 4 councillors who are gay and so those folks at least may get a better deal locally (the ones I know about are all male). Having said that, one is the pathetic and useless Bill "Alka Seltzer" Gavan, the Liar of Lion Farm and former boss of multiple dissolved companies (though that didn't stop weirdo Labour making him a "business ambassador" "lol"!)
THE MAHBOOB PARTY
It was good to have a laugh and a joke with Mahboob on Thursday night. I know that he has had some ill-health but I am pleased to report that he was immaculately turned out and looked great. He was on excellent form - particularly as the evening went on and his relatives and associates were elected.
Mahboob has friends and relatives (eg Rouf and Ahmed) on the Council already and Zahoor was re-elected on Thursday. But there were wild scenes at the count as Ahmad Bostan, Saikha Kauser (Rouf's daughter), Shaheen Akhtar and young Zahir Hussain were also winners. There were numerous sessions of group photos of the happy candidates and their allies.
Mahboob's party even won in racist Bristnall!
Now that there is to be a new leader and Cabinet positions are in play it is inconceivable that the Mahboob Party will not press for office and why not? Many of the candidates connected to the Asian community are highly organised (including plenty of help from Jan Britton's bent paid service) and are achieving much higher numbers of votes than other Labour candidates. Zahoor Ahmed (owner of at least two houses) is a nice bloke but as thick as mince yet he garnered the biggest score of the night with a superb 2,729 votes (despite that unfortunate history from the 90's).
I got the chance to speak to young Zahir Hussain who seems to be a very nice chap and, first time up, he scored a whopping 2,285 votes. Well done and good luck.
Of course, no-one listens to a silly old fool like me but I do hope that the junior Cabinet position (leisure) at the very least can be given to young Mr Wasim Ali. OK he is a tyro councillor but he is pleasant, handsome, always smartly turned-out and, more importantly, intelligent. This blog is totally against the multi-million pound disastrous Commonwealth Games fiasco but matters are under way and what better "face" of the Council to the outside world that Wasim?
"The Dark Side"
A good night too for Eling's (rapidly increasing) number of enemies. Again, the balance of power is shifting away from the Eling rimmers.
Eling has gone from the Cabinet and I am not sure what "Luvvie" Trow will do (it is probably just as well he resigned at 4.30am Friday morning since a number of the comrades were splitting blood that he arrived relatively late and then p*ssed off early from the count!) Syeda will, of course, continue in office in one form or another.
With odious London-based bully, Tom Watson, still running the Council it is inconceivable that Cllr Paul "The Cipher" Moore will be jettisoned but perhaps he can be moved to a post where he is less-likely to do real harm? It is to be hoped that the comrades will take the opportunity to evict Alka Seltzer Gavan and "Inane" Elaine Costigan from the group. "Shackers" has been re-elected but maybe can now be axed in favour of youth (or relative youth)?
Hackett (another Watson puppet) hangs on but the net is tightening. He faces legal action at the moment and The Skidder has a First Tier Tribunal case relating to the bent standards investigation against him later this year when the whole truth can hopefully be put in the public domain. Hackett - "the Sandwell Slasher" - is trying to redeem his tarnished reputation locally eg supporting the campaign against the sleeper works) - and may wish to consider whether to try and save his political career now with a simple apology and some full and frank disclosures.
My reading of the situation is that The Slasher did not act maliciously when he broke the rules and disclosed confidential information about a child for party political reasons. The initial standards investigations found him guilty and he was seemingly willing to apologise and have training etc. But then Eling put his oar in and sacked Melanie Dudley when she bravely stood up to his bullying and refused to change her report. The truth of all this will soon be flooding out but the question is how much Simon himself was involved in that stinking affair? He may now consider this an excellent time to clear his slate and to royally dump on the outcast Squealer?
As far as his other problems were concerned he was largely exonerated - even regarding the bullying of 5 members of staff. And so what if he p+ssed in a bus shelter when blind drunk - many of us have "been there". The streets of Sadders are smeared with faeces and so why should a bit of urine mixed in make any odds? It was always the cover-up under Cooper and then Eling which was the real problem.
The political danger for a new Leader is that if Hackett does not come clean he may have to be fired later this year as the truth of what has gone out flows out (no pun intended).....
Liam Preece must come into the Cabinet (although another Watson puppet) but that still leaves places in play. We live in interesting times....
Labour Exclusions
The national Labour Party tried to kick out Olwen Jones and Ann "Shackers" Shackleton but they successfully appealed de-selection. They are both women of a certain age but romped home by some lengths. I even saw Shackers smile which was a first!
Turnout
The head of Sandwell's bent paid-service, Jan Britton, was the returning officer as usual (with the extra pay that brings on top of his normal high salary) and, metaphorically cracked one off the wrist, when announcing a turnout of, er, 33.91% in St Paul's ward. In other words he was getting excited that the BEST result of the night was 64% of folk NOT voting!
I have said it many times before but many people in Sandwell are utter scum - too thick or lazy to vote. The excuses of the keyboard warriors on social media for not-voting are truly nauseating. And the result of not voting in the sh*thole Borough is always a Labour victory. Labour get in with even really small percentages of the number of folk eligible to vote eg Stephen Jones was elected with just 6.5% of the eligible vote ie 93.5% of people in his ward did not vote for him (that is not his fault but reflective of the crud who live there). The full list of percentages is set out at the end of this post.
We have seen that there is a small percentage of people who care about Sandwell and do marvellous works. The rest don't care about kids being sexually and physically abused and being let down by Labour. They don't care about Labour fraud and corruption. They don't mind paying rapidly rising Council tax to pay for "socialist" sh*t like the post-imperial Games paddling pool. They don't care about Labour selling off the remaining green spaces of Sandwell. They don't care about ground and air pollution poisoning them and their kids as "the comrades" do nothing.
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe the huge numbers of idle scum actually support Labour but are just too lazy to vote. But my life over the last few years has become entwined with Sadders and that is not what I hear when I talk to people or even read the vile local social media sites. I am no psychologist but I wonder whether there is some paralysis (other than moronism) that grips local folk so that they are unable or unwilling to better themselves or their children? Perhaps there is something even more sinister - we know that obesity is a major problem in Sadders (yes, I know....) and this week the Borough was joint second in the whole country for having the fattest kids. Is there something like Munchausen's Syndrome By Proxy sweeping the adult population ie they realise they live in a ghastly dump and are themselves obese and uneducated and so they actively wish this same status on their own kids? Why do they keep accepting sh*t so that they cannot get their gargantuan arse cheeks and thighs chafing together to waddle to a polling booth? Are they too dim to realise that if they cannot be hoisted from their settees they can apply for a postal vote (although they may still have to stagger to a post box)?
The worst ward of the night was Princes End with a disgracefully low turnout of just 16.78%. Yes folks, 83% of the c*nts who live there couldn't get off their fat arses to vote. They deserve nothing from the incoming council. Indeed, some Labour candidates have been actively discussing "scumbag ghettoes" where all the criminals, druggies and other anti-social scum of the Borough are housed together to give everyone else a break. If Sandwell Labour are going to try this experiment surely they should herd this riff-raff into the ghastly hell-hole that is Princes End?
Spoilt Papers
Everyone at the count was surprised by the number of spoilt papers - sometimes containing "rude" words or images. This seems to have been worst where there was a straight Labour -v- Conservative contest eg there were a whopping 136 rejected papers in Hateley Heath and 119 in Great Bridge.
This was part of a national trend but shows dissatisfaction with both the main parties.
Green Shoots
Although a long way off the winners the Greens secured four second spots in Sadders and are making progress.
But did I detect a slight change of attitude amongst the comrades? Hitherto Sandwell has been noted for its tribal viciousness - particularly under Cooper and Eling. I have to say that the atmosphere on Thursday night was remarkably pleasant in the main. There are always the stupid "pricks" who never speak to me - Moore, Shackleton, Sanders, Piper (unless it is to shout abuse), Gavan, Hughes and Costigan - but I had a right laugh with a large number of their colleagues.
Some Labour Councillors actually remarked about how much more "relaxed" the Labour Group had become since Squealing Eling was thrown out. Many were embarrassed by the barriers put up around Council meetings. At the last Labour Group a Councillor came out and asked me if I would like a hot coffee. And - Declaration of Interest here - at the full meeting lovely Suzanne Hartwell gave me a Creme Egg (here is the offending article until I disposed of it in the usual way):
Hitherto there has been a "we won" and "we can now p*ss on you all" attitude at election time. Yes, the comrades cheered their victors but many behaved impeccably. There was much chatting with opposition candidates and handshakes etc. Some Labour councillors are also aware that - as the figures below show - the low turnout is a concern even when they were enjoying an overwhelming victory.
As above, one councillor who has never really commented about anything to me said "we are much happier" following the departure of Eling. Some introduced me to colleagues and even family (the Dhallu's were a particular delight). One senior female councillor complained to me that I had not given her a nickname!!!
The Costigan group was very small and were apart from the main group all evening. Perhaps they fear their treachery will harm their prospects under the new regime?
Did I read it wrong? Is there is a more dynamic group forming who are going to question the executive more closely? Are the Group really going to listen to the views of all of Sandwell rather than just railroad through what Spellar and Watson tell them to? Time will tell but "Hope not Hate"!
MP's
Adrian Bailey was at the count for the duration - yes, right to the end. Spellar made a fleeting appearance. Remoaner Watson had come from his London home to his nominal constituency in the afternoon but didn't bother with the count. Perhaps "the honourable member" was being utilised elsewhere....
ONE CONTEST
There was only really one contest - Blackheath Ward - where newbie Thabiso Mabena for Labour beat my mate Bob Dunn for the Tories by 106 votes. In another low turnout the winner polled just 8% of the total electorate!
Incidentally, a large number of councillors told me that Thabiso is "lovely" and when I finally got to meet him it appears they may be right!
There were only 9 of the 24 wards where the combined votes of ALL the opposition candidates put together were more than the Labour candidate - Blackheath, Bristnall, Charlemont and Grove, Friar Park, Great Barr and Yew Tree, Newton, Old Warley, Princes End and Rowley. It may be that next year the various opposition parties can co-operate so that they do not split the opposition vote in these seats?
HARD WORK
I was a bit disappointed that some of the candidates did not even turn up for the count. As per the last paragraph it is also a shame that effort and resources are not being better targeted by the parties.
BUT - so many put in a tremendous effort. I have already mentioned in this blog Richard Jeffcoat, the Green candidate in Tipton End. Many of the Conservatives under Scott Chapman also campaigned hard but were kicked in the teeth by national events.
Labour are a well-resourced and formidable machine in Sandwell but many councillors worked extremely hard to gain the victory (even as Corbyn's crew were failing nationally). A number of Labour's ladies and gents of a certain age were worn out and were slumped around the counting stage. Maria Crompton reeled off the large number of wards which she had leafleted. And how they groaned about the prospect of doing it all again for the Euros!
Mind you, an interesting candidate who looks like she will be fun has joined the ranks - Kay Millar (Hateley Heath). She runs zumba classes and so may be able to arrange a quick work-out for flabby comrades before meetings. (The awkward squad - myself and Darryl - could do to lose a few pounds so perhaps she can suggest a routine for us too. And we need something to get us moving on those cold winter vigils outside The Kremlin!)
Special mention for Wayne Trinder and the team fighting the proposed sleeper works at Bescot. From nothing they achieved a vote of 562 to come second in Friar Park.
BEST JOKE OF THE NIGHT
One male councillor has had testicular cancer. He said that something I said about him was "b*llocks" but swiftly changed that to "or b*llock in my case".
JAN BRITTON
There are dire warnings from Britton that there was to be no mobile phone use in the counting hall. This was ignored by Labour folk long before results were being declared and the rule was then openly flouted for group photos etc. Two years ago when I did NOT use my phone in the counting hall Britton lied that I did (as he lied to the police about me and at my "c*cksucker" trial).
I was talking to a senior Labour Councillor - he started looking at his phone and suggested I look something up on mine. He was amazed when I declined on the basis that I would immediately face sanction and though that this harassment of me was "pathetic". Still one rule for one eh Jan.....?
Percentage of total eligible votes which gained Labour candidates their victories (rounded to nearest half a percent). New entrants in yellow:
Ahmad Bostan (Abbey's replacement for The Squealer) 17%
Thabiso Mabena (Blackheath) 8%
Saikha Kausar (Mo Rouf's daughter - Bristnall) 10%
Elizabeth Giles (Charlemont/Grove Vale) 12.5% (bizarrely Liam Preece said he hoped I reported on this tremendous Labour victory - I now do so but am not sure why he was so excited about it).
Ann "Shackers" Shackleton (Cradley Heath/Old Hill) 11.5%
Karen Simms (Friar Park) 8%
Gurdesh Kaur Gill (Great Barr/Yew Tree) 13%
Pete Allen (Great Bridge) 12%
Jackie Taylor (Greets Green/Lyng) 19%
Kay Millar (Hateley Heath) 16%
Yvonne Davies (Langley) 13%
Richard McVittie (Newton) 9.5%
Suzanne Hartwell (Oldbury) 18.5%
Richard Jones (Old Warley) 11%
Stephen Jones (Princes End) 6.5%
Shaheen Akhtar (Rowley) 8%
Manjit Singh Gill (Smethwick) 20%
Zahir Hussain (Soho & Vic) 23.5%
Zahoor Ahmed (St Paul's) 27.5%
Syeda Khatun (Tipton Green) 13.5%
Lorraine Ashman (Tividale) 11.5%
Her Majesty Queen Elaine Costigan (Wednesbury North) 16%
Olwen Jones (Wednesbury South) 12.5%
Bawa Dhallu (West Brom Central) 20.5%
Good luck to all the newbies! But The Skidder will be watching you all!
THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!
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