Leicester Mercury political correspondent
Posts tagged Veejay Patel
SKETCH: Nervous whispers – “Peter’s here”
Mar 7th
Leicester City Council cabinet – Monday, 1pm
Awkward fidgeting. Eyes darting around. “He’s coming,” they whispered, “Peter’s here,” they cooed in the council chamber.
I’d met him outside already. Sir Peter Soulsby strode across town hall square towards the town hall entrance for Monday’s cabinet meeting. ”I need to remind myself how these things work,” he chuckled.
If all goes to plan he’ll be running the authority in eight weeks.
He sauntered into the council chamber just before 1pm as councillors and senior officers prepared for the fortnightly rubber-stamping of key decisions.
At the top of the cabinet table sat glum-faced Veejay Patel – thwarted by Soulsby just 48 hours earlier – with Vi Dempster, his running mate, to his right.
To his left sat Sheila Lock. Word is that Peter wants an overhaul of senior management. And she’s the most senior manager. Gulp.
As Sir Peter walked in she kept a poker face and appeared to stare straight ahead. So did Veejay. So did Vi. The trio sat for a ten seconds, all motion suspended. It wasn’t a calculated snub, it was a moment of awkwardness.
One cabinet member – a known supporter of Veejay – rolled their eyes in the direction of Peter before mouthing something towards me.
Peter took a seat to the left-hand side of the action which is actually Parmjit Gill’s usual full council seat. It’s the second seat he’s taken from Mr Gill in five years.
Union man Gary Garner – backer of Soulsby – sat on the opposite side of the chamber. His attendance at cabinet is occasional. Last time he was seen in the council chamber was last month, bellowing from the public gallery at Ross Grant. This time he was on his best behaviour.
The meeting itself was uneventful in terms of substance, but it was the subtleties that made this fascinating.
An item on strip clubs presented by Sarah Russell couldn’t divert my attention from the occasional awkward glance between Veejay and Peter. A city centre parking policy was no match for the way Veejay supporters emphasised the word leader when addressing him a little more than usual.
The final item on the agenda was to be held in private session. Only elected council politicos and officers were to stay. The press and public were told to scarper.
It felt strange, but that included Peter.
None of the councillor would have looked twice if he’d stayed, their minds have already turned to May 6.
Mayoral race – how they stand
Feb 16th
++Labour councillor endorsements++
Veejay Patel 14
Sir Peter Soulsby 12
Ross Willmott 7
Abdul Osman 5
Rita Patel 0
Vote takes place on March 5. Read more here
UK Boarding Agency
Feb 7th
I spotted a typo on Veejay Patel’s promotional mayoral calendar when it arrived last week.
On his list of useful telephone numbers the UK Border Agency is misspelled as the UK Boarding Agency.
I thought nothing more of it until a a photoshopped photograph landed in my inbox yesterday, from the supporter of a rival campaign, with the subject line:
Who ya gonna call? The UK Boarding Agency!
Photo credit: “Snack Capital”
Dividing lines
Feb 3rd
Earlier this week I speculated that Veejay Patel would use the fact that he was born in Leicester against rival Peter Soulsby, who was born in the north east.
It’s now quite obvious that I was right. A 2011 promotional calendar from Veejay landed on my desk this morning, and it trumpets his birthplace quite prominently underneath his photo on the right-hand side.
He clearly thinks that it’ll give him the edge with Labour members against Bishop Auckland-born Soulsby.
A north east-born bloke poking his nose into Leicester city politics? It’ll never work…
(I’m from South Shields, Tyneside.)
My budget zinger
Jan 19th
City council budget briefing day on Wednesday. Glum faces. Chief executive and head of finance did the detail while Veejay Patel, Vi Dempster and Mohammed Dawood did the politics. Press man Mark Bentley looked on.
On the subject of controversial changes to staff contracts Veejay used his gravest of tones. “This is not something we would have chosen to do.” Among the changes was the removal of free parking spaces for some staff. All part of sharing the burden of the cuts, the councillors nodded.
Then time for my zinger: “You know the car park for councillors underneath New Walk Centre? Will you be charging for that?”
An uncomfortable mumble from some of those present. One officer grinned.
Dawood: “Sorry I missed the question.”
Veejay responded: “Er, no.”
“But is it at least under consideration?” I pressed.
“We can look at that yes,” Veejay said, quickly scribbling down the suggestion.
Don’t hold your breath on that one, folks. The full council would have to vote it through, and turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.
Hell hath no fury like a rugby fan scorned
Nov 16th
An emergency full council meeting is all set for this Friday.
It’s where the Labour Party will attempt to get the ball rolling towards a planned elected mayor system for the city.
Tory opposition leader Ross Grant has repeatedly criticised the haste – including in a strongly-worded open-letter to Veejay Patel last week.
So what better way to provoke his wrath than by scheduling one of the most important council meetings of the year for the same days as his beloved Tigers taking on Harlequins.
Veejay Patel – Don’t quote him on that (UPDATED)
Nov 9th
Veejay Patel, May 21: “The leader and cabinet model that is well established in this city. In this city all politicians like to engage in the decision-making process. It is the model that we have at the moment that ensures that happens, more so than the elected-mayor model.”
Veejay Patel, November 8: “An elected mayor will give power back to the people, rather than politicians. The public votes will give an elected mayor the mandate to get things done.”
UPDATE: A few people wondering why Veejay has been picked out when so many of the Labour group appear to have changed their minds over the mayor issue. It’s just because he’s the leader and the man at the top. Happy to make it clear that many others, including Ross Willmott for example, have also pulled amazing u-turns.
Elected Mayor – A clearer picture
Nov 9th
So it’s official. We’re heading towards an elected mayor for Leicester, and we’ll probably be going to the polls next May to choose who leads the city.
Sir Peter Soulsby confirmed to me last night that he’ll run for the Labour nomination – and he also told me that he won’t do a Ken Livingstone and run as an independent if he doesn’t win the nomination, as some rumours had suggested.
Ross Willmott has stepped forward to throw his hat into the ring. Last week I wondered whether he would stand at all, as he hadn’t made much noise on the matter.
He tells me he didn’t want to move sooner as it would have looked like a “challenge” to Veejay’s leadership, which he wanted to avoid.
As for the current leader, he got a bit coy when I asked whether he’d stand, but it’s clear that he’s very likely to. The only reason he can’t declare himself as a candidate yet is to avoid the image of him pre-empting the outcome of the public consultation. Abdul Osman is yet to comment.
But that’s just four names. One Labour cabinet member told me that he predicts that at least six people will be in the running for the Labour nomination. Soulsby thinks it could be even higher.
But while you mull over the Labour names in the frame, independents are rousing from their slumber.
Don’t forget that a third of the elected mayors in Britain are independents who’ve capitalised on a public distaste for mainstream politics. This field is going to be one to watch.
One city mover and shaker has already telephoned me this morning today to say: “I’m in.”
City Mayor: New name in the frame?
Nov 5th
Word on the street is that Sir Peter Soulsby has picked up the backing of the some of the party’s key local influencers [read Keith Vaz] for his planned run at becoming Leicester’s elected mayor.
Privately, the two main opposition parties concede that whoever gets the Labour nomination is odds-on favourite to become the high-profile leader of the city, and you’d be mad not to put your money on Sir Peter.
But Soulsby’s likely candidacy is already well-known. He’s at Leicester town hall more than me these days.
So who else would throw their hat into the ring? There’s Veejay Patel, who I’d mark down as second-favourite in any race. Despite preferring to be a lower-profile council leader, it would make sense for him to use his incumbency to his advantage. He’s had a pretty steady few months at the helm of the council, with no policy gaffes so far.
Ignore those who persist in bringing up Keith Vaz’s name – the home affairs select committee chair would be taking a step down to run. Soulsby is in a bit of a different position as a relatively anonymous backbencher.
Meanwhile if Ross Willmott was going to stand he’d have probably made it known before now, but don’t rule it out. Although he’s presumably got his eye on the vacant Leicester South seat should Soulsby become mayor.
Manish Sood is suspended by the party, six months since his attack on Gordon Brown, so you needn’t worry about a bizarre run from him.
However the latest name in the frame, whispered to me by a contact on my mobile as I jogged along the canal this morning, is regeneration chief Abdul Osman.
“He fancies his chances,” my source confided, “so don’t rule him out.” This blogger rates Abdul, but isn’t convinced he could win the selection.
Tell me what you know, in confidence, using davidmaclean@leicestermercury.co.uk
Veejay’s ‘Era of Openness’ tested
Aug 18th
When he took up the role of council leader earlier this year, Veejay Patel made a bold pledge. That his administration would be the most open we’d ever seen.
The headline on the story trumpeted Veejay’s “Era of Openness”, and it’s something I tested this week.
I requested some data through the press office which, on analysis, may or may not prove controversial. Nevertheless, it was easily accessible and should have already been compiled into the required format.
Unsurprisingly, the press office told me I had to submit the request as an FOI, because there was too much data to compile. I was faced with a potential delay of a month to access council information.
Pulling out the tattered copy of the story which I always have to hand on my desk, I fired off an email to Veejay questioning the decision given his previous promise.
Within two hours I received an email from his assistant with the relevant figures.
He may only been in office for a few months, but so far he’s upholding his pledge of openness. Long may it continue.
Sketch: Willmott in cruise control
Jun 17th
Casual Wednesday at Leicester City Council.
Finance select committee. Ross Willmott bounds in. No tie, light pink shirt, casual trousers. Jovial lines peppered with his own giggles. It was a council scrutiny meeting, but he could have been embarking on a package cruise.
He took his seat in front of me and was soon joined by Andy Connelly, positively pink thanks to the beaming summer sunshine, and Patrick Kitterick.
The line-up looked like the back seat of a school bus – packed with the class rabble-rousers.
They were in good spirits for a trio so recently sheared of their cabinet responsibilities. Why? Because they now sit on one of the most powerful committees.
They look after the money. How on earth did the Labour whips let this one slip through the net?
Did any members want a briefing about how council finances work – an officer asked. You’d hope not, or they’re on the wrong committee.
But it was an opportunity for a Willmott boast: “The chief finance officer tells me everything he tells the cabinet anyway.” [See comments]
Hooray! They’re still in the loop. Or are they?
“You’ve got to read the Mercury to find out what’s happening at the council these days,” grumbled Kitterick. Perhaps not.
Five minutes in and the first trap had been set. Kitterick requested that Vi Dempster, cabinet member for children and schools, turn up next time around to explain some missed targets. “I second that,” said Willmott.
“It’s an ambush,” Ross Grant Tweeted.
Later on the presence of leader Veejay Patel was requested. Directors and documents were also necessary for the next meeting, they said. Chief executive Sheila Lock ended up sitting at the table to explain items. Officers were grilled. Just one item went through on the nod. No quarter was given here.
When the poor council scribe taking notes was asked to read back the committee’s shopping list of demands she mentioned that the two cabinet members would address the committee.
“I don’t want to be addressed,” said Willmott, “I want to question them.”
Will they be added to the agenda for the next meeting on July 7? No-one could say.
Chair Coley said, half-joking, that if they couldn’t then they’d have to arrange an emergency session.
“Perfect,” said Willmott, “I’ve got a lot of time on my hands these days.”
