Haringey’s beleaguered ruling Labour group is today facing criticism from the opposition Liberal Democrats for refusing to grant any chairs of council scrutiny committees to the opposition party.

The move from Labour comes despite the huge increase in the number of Liberal Democrat councillors and early informal indications from the ruling party that they would offer the chair of at least one important ‘scrutiny panel’ to the Lib Dems. The Lib Dems say the move makes a mockery of claims by the Labour council leader that he would listen to the results of the local elections in the west of the borough.

The new system of scrutiny committees, based on the Westminster model of select committees, should allow opposition members to take charge of some of the committees which act a ‘watchdog’ over the council executive – as happens in Parliament.

Instead, Haringey Labour has simply carved up the posts for themselves.

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem leader of the opposition comments:

“It is very disappointing, though not surprising, to see Labour return immediately to its old ways. Quite clearly they have learned nothing from the election results, and there will be no change at all in their attitude. It is just more of the same.”