THE CONSTITUTION of Harrow Council last night had 18 sections suspended in a move that was compared to the acts of Nazi Germany burning books.
A debate on the legality of last night's vote on who should lead Harrow Council took a sour turn as all Labour and Conservative members suspended many of the Mayor of Harrow Nana Asante's (Independent Labour) procedural powers.
The move was made by members of the two leading parties to ensure a vote would go ahead to oust Independent Labour's Thaya Idaikkadar as leader of the council.
David Perry, Labour's Leader said: "It is not personal. It is in the interest of the residents and that mandate given to the Labour Group to run this borough."
Speaking at the meeting, Chris Noyce, the solitary Liberal Democrat in Harrow Council, said: "I have never in my 23 years sitting in this chamber seen our constitution torn up in such an arbitrary way. It is as if the constitution was thrown on a pile of books rather like books that were burned in Nazi Germany."
The mayor sought to adjourn the meeting as she told the chamber she felt it was not sanctioned by law as a motion to elect a new leader had already been forwarded within the last six months, but the council stripped her of her powers.
Krishna James, Independent Labour's now-former portfolio holder for health, said: "What I am seeing today breaks my heart to see the constitution just ripped out."
Conservative leader Susan Hall was voted leader, as the Independent Labour faction refused to support their former colleagues who they allege discriminated against them when electing Councillor David Perry leader of the group.
Mrs James added at the meeting: "I know why I left the Labour Group. I know what kind of racism I have faced growing up in the countryside and this was an extension of that."
The claims of discrimination have been continually and robustly denied by the Labour Group, both locally and nationally.
Navin Shah, Labour's London Assembly members for Brent and Harrow, said at the meeting: "We have heard lectures with regard to Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, but let me say one thing. Quite frankly, it is not about racism, it is about competence. How can eight people run the council? That is what this is about. Not racism."
Mr Perry supported Mr Shah in rubbishing claims that the motion to remove Mr Idaikkadar was to do with anything an assessment on his administrations ability to govern.
After the meeting, Councillor Chris Noyce (Liberal Democrat), who abstained in the leadership vote, said: "Now that the Tories have executed their plan and seized power through the back door, perhaps Harrow can have eight months of stability before the next election.
"The Tories have to decide how they will reform Labour’s atrocious budget and set the stage for elections in 2014.
"However as the Mayor is seeking legal advice, there is every possibility we might have to vote again if the courts get involved.”
