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WALTHAM FOREST: Lib Dems appoint new leader
6:04pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
THE Liberal Democrat group on Waltham Forest Council has elected a new leader.
The Chapel End councillor John Macklin will replace Keith Rayner, who in recent years has served as deputy leader in the joint administration with Labour.
Cllr Macklin was elected to the council in 2002 and is currently cabinet member for service modernisation.
He spent 13 years as a secondary schoolteacher and is now a university lecturer.
Cllr Macklin said that, under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats will be an "inclusive party which is ready to listen to residents and implement ambitious and forward-thinking ideas for the good of our borough".
The Liberal Democrat group is currently the second largest on the council behind Labour, with 19 seats.
He said: "I want to lead the Liberal Democrats in engaging those who believe that politics in Waltham Forest has nothing to do with them.
"I will make it a priority to involve those residents who have skills to offer and imaginative ideas regarding the running of their local council.
"The Liberal Democrats will prove that, when working with the people they represent, local councillors can deliver meaningful change for our borough.
"This is an exciting time for the Liberal Democrats.
"We are in a perfect position to challenge for control of the council and to build on the excellent work our councillors carry out for residents right across the borough.
"I am determined that we will continue to be the party that delivers for the whole of Waltham Forest".
It had been rumoured that a change of leadership in the Lib Dem group would pave the way for the group pulling out of the coalition with Labour and forming an administration with the Conservative group.
But this is now not possible for at least 12 months as the Lib Dem group decided last week to sustain the coalition.
Your Say Your Guardian
Disgusted, Waltham Forest says...
10:26pm Tue 13 May 08
Steve F, E10 says...
1:47am Wed 14 May 08
JF, walthamstow says...
7:14am Wed 14 May 08
Can you please find out where all the money went missing from the education budget, get rid of the stupid NuLabour propaganda department and get the council's officers to start foccussing their efforts on running the place effectively? Please get the council to stop hiding behind the 'pseudo-managerial-s
peak', the 'consultants', and the misuse of council officers' time on jargonising and polical correctness. Honesty, value for money and good quality accessible services are what people want. We don't want self-serving, corrupt and wasteful ego-tripping and ideological bullsh*t by the elitist clique in charge. If they stand in your way in delivering good services, or lie to you about anything, especially where the money has gone, pull the plug on Loakes and call in the fraud squad to investigate.
Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow says...
8:03am Wed 14 May 08
Ooh er mother, walthamstow says...
8:28am Wed 14 May 08
Peter, Walthamstow says...
9:32am Wed 14 May 08
Is this a wind up? In case you were beamed to the moon last week, Loakes was re=relected by 15 of the most stupid councillors in the borough. How do expect anyone to make him "buck up" now?
Mr Khalid, walthamstow says...
10:06am Wed 14 May 08
People, walthamstow says...
12:25pm Wed 14 May 08
Let's give Cllr Macklin a chance to prove himself. It is only fair. To listen to the people, for a start look at the mess Labour/ lib-Dem cause over gallery, musuem, libraries and many more. Cut the rot and deliver honestly what the people need in the borough.
So far, people have no faith in councillors as they speak double standard, do not attend their surgery and doing things in secret at borough's detriment.
Cllr macklin, Show the people that you care about honesty and deliver what you preach!
Fed Up, Walthamstow says...
1:41pm Wed 14 May 08
Observer, says...
1:41pm Wed 14 May 08
Are you still sleeping? Clyde Loakes is still the leader of the council NOT John Macklin because he's too chicken to go in with Matt Davis (a rising star if ever there was one). How exactly are people meant to "give Macklin a chance" when there's been absolutely no change at all at the top? This borough is rotting like a stinking carcus.
Sarah Dewesbury, Leyton says...
1:49pm Wed 14 May 08
Observer, says...
2:10pm Wed 14 May 08
All right, Clyde? Just not your week is it! I've got more public service in my little toe nail than Loakes will ever have in his pea sized brain. Don't patronise the people who live here. We've had enough of him and the Liberals are a disgrace to keep him against the will of the PEOPLE ho live here...
mung, walthamstow says...
2:57pm Wed 14 May 08
INFOrmer, Waltham Forest says...
4:00pm Wed 14 May 08
The Tories in the Borough are just as bad, if not worse.
We have had a homophobic Labour member, a wife beating Lib Dem and now there is a Tory fraudster, who will be going to court soon for benefit fraud.
I wouldn't feel comfortable naming him until it becomes public, so don't ask.
Local, Walthamstow says...
4:12pm Wed 14 May 08
Voyeur, walthamstow says...
4:15pm Wed 14 May 08
Which one is it?
INFOrmer, Waltham Forest says...
5:25pm Wed 14 May 08
The press don't even know about it yet so I can't tell you guys I'm afraid.
Caroline, Leytonstone says...
9:10pm Wed 14 May 08
Chingford United Netball Team, E4 says...
8:59am Thu 15 May 08
A donkey by any other name will still be an ****.
Mr Codgers, Snaresbrook says...
6:16pm Thu 15 May 08
Leading what? A bunch of useless losers
Oberver (the original), says...
9:39am Mon 19 May 08
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Cllr John Macklin
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Polly, E17 says...
9:10pm Tue 13 May 08
Drivel. The meaningful change this borough wants is to kick out the current cabinet and the New Labour halfwits who are dragging this borough down. The Lib Dems will curry no favour with local voters by continuing to prop up this discredited administration.