A fine line (From York Press)

A fine line

12:07pm Wednesday 28th November 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I WAS concerned to read about Coun Scott being temporarily deprived of the Labour whip for failing to vote in line with his party’s stance on expenses and allowances.

Removing the whip should only be reserved for a politician who is unwilling to publicly accept the corporate views of colleagues. We don’t know if that opportunity was accorded to Coun Scott before the sanction was imposed, but I hope that it was.

Likewise, I hope councillors were permitted to air individual views beforehand, in committee. But does the earlier resignation of Lynn Jeffries hint of the whip being applied during pre-meetings?

That would stifle later debate in public committee meetings.

York’s Labour group has my broad support at present, but I’m unhappy with this latest manifestation of possible internal strife.

There is a fine line to be drawn between discipline and democracy, and Labour’s leader should perhaps assure the electorate that he is juggling these requirements fairly.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York.