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Councillor's defection boosts Tory ethnic drive
Ross Lydall21 Aug 2009
David Cameron's bid to win over London's ethnic communities scored another success today when a Labour councillor defected to become the first black Tory on Enfield council.
Denise Headley will cross the floor after seven years as a Labour councillor, boosting the Tory majority on the council from three to five.
Ms Headley, 38, a single mother of eight-year-old twins, said she had become disillusioned with Labour's "failure" to speak up for the "ethnic majority" of non-white people and had been attracted by Mr Cameron's more inclusive approach.
She rose to prominence locally for her forthright views on teenage knife crime, race and inequality but was deselected last month by Labour, apparently after a row over the number of black council candidates being put forward by Labour.
Her decision to join the Tories has been seen as a coup by the party's high command, with the move being rubber-stamped by Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles. Ms Headley told the Standard: "In a sense I'm quite pleased to be the first [black Tory councillor in Enfield]. I hope to be the first of many. The assumption that Labour is the only place you can articulate the politics of ethnic communities is a mistake. They have for many years taken advantage of that but have delivered so little for the black community. One in four black men are on the DNA database. That to me is a huge travesty.
"There is always going to be a question of whether I'm doing this as a political opportunist. But anyone who knows me knows I have been an advocate for equal opportunities and young citizens since I stepped into politics."
Jeff Rodin, the Labour opposition leader on Enfield, said: "The fact Denise will be the first black Conservative councillor in Enfield is itself an indictment of the Conservatives' failure to represent the spread of communities that live in the borough."
Reader views (10)
I am standing in next year's local elections for the Conservatives in Enfield with a black candidate who happens to be an ex Labour councillor in Haringey. I have previously campaigned for a black female candidate in another ward. All our candidates, who come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, are obviously pleased to put themselves forward to stand for the Conservatives in Enfield. Well done Denise and welcome.
- Lindsay Rawlings, Edmonton, England, 24/08/2009 15:13
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I think it is sad that Denise has chosen this course of action. Contrary to what has being written in the press about Labour not selecting Black candidates, and prior to when it was formally announced that Denise had been deselected, Labour had chosen several Black candidates to stand in both winnable and what may be unwinnable wards. These members were selected by a panel made up of one white male, white female, a black male from the middles class and working class. Come the next election, the talk of Enfield Labour being racist will be seen as nonsense and will be put to bed.
I'd rather represent a party made up of so many different racial groupings and women than a party that will be using Black people tokenistically. This I predict will backfire on both Denise and the Tories.
Enfield Labour
- Enfield Labour, London, United Kingdom, 24/08/2009 14:14
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It is shame that Denise has chosen to join the Tories and not done the decent the right thing and challenge the party in its decision (she could have taken it all the way to the top as party rules permit or sought intervention of high profile Black politicians). What is not reported, and possibly part of the reason why Denise did not got deselected in the first place, is her association with a group (Indepedent Edmonton Green Development Initiative) led by agitators who claim to represent the needs of Edmonton when they only represent themselves and represent negativity. This can be understood from two of its members (Omar Days and former Labour Councillor Clive Morrison), with whom Denise has a strong association.
Any true person seeking to empower residents of Edmonton would have not taken the route Denise has taken and join the Enfield Tories. Denise has not only let down Enfield Labour, but she has let herself down her constituents down and may never recover politically. How can she be expected to be taken seriously in the future by joining forces with a Tory Council that looks after its heatlands (predominately white middle class surbi
- Voice Of Edmonton, London, United Kingdowm, 24/08/2009 13:45
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"There is always going to be a question of whether I'm doing this as a political opportunist..."
Let's put that question to her electors, eh? Oh, wasn't that part of the deal?
- Mdj E10, london uk, 22/08/2009 00:16
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another rat jumping off a sinking ship it seems
- Mr Opinion, london, 21/08/2009 16:46
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Well done Denise and welcome to the Conservatives, a party that is becoming a strong progressive alliance.
Labour talk about equality and in many areas they have been excellent, but at a local level we are seeing good local BME Labour councillors all over London being deslected or not being allowed onto the candidates panel.How many more good BME councillors are going to be dumped before Labour realise the anger they are causing in the community?
Since I joined the Conservatives from Labour last month, publicly Labour have been mostly fine, privately, that's another matter. I wish Denise well and it really is Labour's loss is the Conservative gain.
- Cllr. Alan Dobbie, Haringey, London, UK, 21/08/2009 15:43
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I am extremely glad that Denise is joining the Conservatives in Enfield. She is an inspirational figure in the way she tirelessly work for the people that elected her. I am looking forward to serving the people of Enfield with her and to the election next year when she will be re-elected as a Conservative councillor.
Jeff Rodin’s comment is yet another manifestation of how out of touch Labour is. He probably also thinks that all gay people vote for him… Imagine his surprise when he finds out there are four openly gay councillors in Enfield on the Conservative side to Labour and their big fat zero!
- Henry Lamprecht, Southgate, London, 21/08/2009 14:42
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Typical career orientated politician, not exactly going to be the most trust worthy of individuals is she? I wonder how many more corrupt Socialists will change their spots before the general election.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/08/2009 13:28
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Candidates who happen to be black have stood for the Conservative Party in Enfield in seats previously held by the Conservatives but regrettably have failed to get elected.
Jeff Rodin's comments should be considered in that light.
- Michael Lavender, Enfield, UK, 21/08/2009 12:17
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I warmly welcome Denise into our ranks.
Jeff Rodin however has once again choosen his words carefully to mislead the public. I am a Conservative Councillor of Turkish Cypriot origin in Enfield and have a number of colleagues from Greek and Turkish Cypriot origin (including our Mayor).
A significant number of candidates choosen to fight the May 2010 local elections for our Party are from the BAME community, all having being choosen on merit - unlike the process used within the Labour Party!
- Ertan Hurer, London, England, 21/08/2009 11:28
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