New Labour Councillor grilled by BBC's Look North presenter Peter Levy on suitability for role (Haltemprice and Howden)

New Labour Councillor grilled by BBC's Look North presenter Peter Levy on suitability for role

June 6, 2011 3:53 PM
By Alan Williams

"Were you honest with people when campaigning, that you might not be here?" The new teenage Labour councillor for Tranby Ward remained silent when Peter Levy first put the question. (Earlier in the interview he admitted that he had been offered a place at London University starting this October.)

Then after being pressed to answer the prospective student said,"We didn't tell them because we didn't think it was an important issue." Levy begged to differ and said, "It is important because their local councillor is at University in London. Can you be a successful councillor for Tranby if you are at University in London?" The answer came back, "I hope so and people will judge me on that in four years time."

A leading local Lib Dem councillor Brian Jefferies condemned the arrogance of the Labour party for knowingly putting up a candidate who had a place at a prestigious university in October. "How can a councillor properly represent residents, attend council meetings and sit on committees if he is 200 miles away for a large part of the year? As a member of the official opposition he will be expected to play his full part on the various committees as well attend full council meetings. He will be receiving over £10,000 a year as a councillor but how can he justify receiving tax payers money if he is rarely present?" said Brian.