Cardiff Labour fighting like ferrets in a sack

It’s now official Labour’s Leader of Cardiff Council Heather Joyce is facing a challenge from fellow Labour Councillor Phil Hawkins for the top job.

To be honest I can’t say I’m surprised after last year’s  elections were over a friend of mind said Heather was no more than puppet put in place for certain Labour councillor’s to control and it appears the rest of the Labour Councillors have finally worked that out.

The South Wales Echo states ‘The leadership challenge comes just 12 months after Labour took back control of County Hall in a stunning election victory.

Cardiff Labour’s 46 councillors will vote in a secret ballot at the group’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday May 13^th  Labour sources in both camps suggest the vote is likely to be “very tight”, with perhaps just two or three votes deciding the result.

Opposition groups labelled the contest “hugely embarrassing” for Labour, claiming that even a close victory for Coun Joyce would undermine her leadership.

The Echo yesterday contacted Coun Hawkins to ask why he was challenging for the top job, what he would differently should he win and where he stood on key issues.

But Coun Hawkins said he was unable to comment, as did Coun Patel. The incumbent leaders in the administration, Coun Cook and Coun Joyce, also refused to comment.

The Echo understands all Labour councillors have been threatened with sanctions if they discuss the leadership contest with the press.

In an email, the group’s chairman, Ben Thomas, who himself was elected by a margin of just a couple of votes in March, told councillors that all discussions surrounding the AGM were to be kept confidential.'

I wonder if the Labour Welsh Government will intervene any time or will they ignore the situation, either way any period of political infighting and instability from the governing party in the City’s Local Authority would be unwelcome and would add to a perception that Welsh politics is divorced from reality as Councillors vie for power rather than take some tough decision on spending and putting the Council in position to take full advantage of the opportunities and feel good factor created by Cardiff City’s promotion - I wonder what the voters in Cardiff make of it all?

Any source