Labour accused of turning Hyndburn into 'Communist' state

The allegation came from the authority's Conservative leader Cllr Zak Khan, whose group has written to chief executive David Welsby complaining recent constitutional amendments were 'undemocratic'.

In the letter, Cllr Khan admitted he and his fellow Tory councillors "missed" the amendments.

Hyndburn Council's deputy leader Cllr Noordad Aziz has hit back by saying the Tories voted for the changes, suggesting they either supported them or were not paying attention.

He said the Tory group's letter "raises serious concerns about their attentiveness and responsibility".

The Conservative group letter to Mr Welsby calls for a motion to be tabled at the next Full Council meeting to reverse the alterations to its procedures.

It says: "At the Annual General Meeting in May 2024, the Labour Group changed the rules to require five members to sign and submit a motion.

"This was mistakenly missed by us, otherwise it would have been voted against.

Cllr Noordad Aziz said the letter raises serious concerns about the Tory group's attentiveness'

"Nonetheless, it doesn’t make it right that it continues.

"The Labour group’s changes have made us most undemocratic.

"This hits the minority groups (Green and Independent) the most.

"The above changes are in addition to delays to scrutiny items, most recently having seen reports to the Special Scrutiny Committee delayed until the New Year, as well as the actions of the Mayor at previous council meetings (preventing our group leader and others from speaking because comments were deemed to be 'political').

"Our objections were strongly raised at a meeting afterwards by our group leader, Cllr Zak Khan, with Mayor Cllr Mike Booth, attended by leader Cllr Munsif Dad and Green Cllr Shabir Fazal.

"We want to formally register our concerns with you directly. The actions of the controlling group are turning this council into one that is deliberately avoiding democratic scrutiny.

"As an initial step, we request this motion be proposed at Full Council: 'A change to council procedure rules that revert back to allowing motions and notices to be signed by at least two members'."

Tory group boss Cllr Khan added: "The changes to procedural rules, delays to scrutiny items, and actions of the Mayor at previous council meetings preventing me and others from speaking because comments were deemed to be 'political' are worrying.

"The way the new Labour administration is stifling our ability to discuss key issues important to residents is commensurate to a Communist council."

Deputy leader Cllr Aziz said: "The council’s constitution, including the rule requiring five members to sign and submit a motion, was adopted collectively by all members, including Conservatives, Greens, and Independents at the AGM without any complaints.

"If some now claim they were unaware of what they voted for, it raises serious concerns about their attentiveness and responsibility as elected officials.

"Voting without understanding suggests a lack of diligence, and this calls into question their ability to effectively represent their constituents."