Leicester Mercury Political correspondent
Posts tagged Veejay Patel
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.”
Lifting the veil
Jun 15th
Former Leicester City Council leader Ross Willmott has been agitating for a while now over the axe that’s likely to fall on some of the big projects planned for the city.
Because while Ross was fond of an eye-catching (and often costly) project announcement, new leader Veejay Patel has made it clear from the start that many of these simply aren’t justifiable given the financial climate.
He sent Ross an email this month, addressing his concerns, but also managed to squeeze in a few choice words.
He said:
“I do hope that you continue to uphold Labour values and accept the democratic process and support the leadership.
“As you will be aware the timetable for the selection of candidates for the 2011 local elections will be produced soon … and we cannot be complacent.
“The approach you decide upon will have potential implications on yourself and all group members and in particular with marginal seats and lower turnouts. I do hope that you consider working in the spirit of unity rather than personal ambition.”
Have you read between the lines? Ross Willmott certainly did.
He responded the next day:
“Your email contains a thinly veiled threat to deselect me from my seat…”
Forget the actual city elections, it’s the party manoeuvrings for seat nominations that’ll keep things interesting for the next few months.
Off the leash
Jun 10th
If you weren’t aware, former Leicester City Council leader Ross Willmott is appearing on the Politics Show on Sunday.
Which begs one simple question – why?
He was on the show now and then when he was at the helm of the authority, but he’s now a humble backbencher without even a cabinet position. I’d be curious to know how this booking came about.
Don’t forget, Leicester could be choosing an elected mayor by this time next year. A TV profile certainly doesn’t do a candidate any harm.
It may of course be much more simple than that. He is, after all a thorn in new leader Veejay’s side. What better way to wind-up his successor than by being the special guest on the East Midlands’ flagship politics show?
Why I’m on a collision course with the county council
Jun 9th
When I started work at the Mercury back in January, I was struck by how frank Leicestershire County Council leader David Parsons could be.
He spoke, in my opinion, the way all council leaders should do: honestly, without jargon, and with an eye for a colourful quote.
You could call him about anything and get an on-the-spot opinion, and if he didn’t know anything about the issue, he’d tell you. It was a welcome contrast to the often guarded style of then city leader Ross Willmott. How times have changed.
Put in a call, or fire off an email to Mr Parsons these days and you’ll wait a few hours before getting a comment sent directly from someone in the communications team on his behalf. “This will be happening more often,” I’ve been told.
This all started with the arrival of Fergus Sheppard. I’ve no doubt that this anti-democratic move has been chalked up as a way of making the council’s PR machine more streamlined. But quite simply, it cuts off the relationship the press should have with a senior politician.
David never seemed to be the type who’d go in for all the spin and image management rubbish, but I can only assume he’s been persuaded to give it a whirl.
And to be honest, because I haven’t needed comments on anything particularly groundbreaking from him in the past few weeks, I’ve let the whole thing slide.
But all councils have to make big decisions over the next year or so about spending decisions, reform and cutbacks.
These are serious issues, which is why I don’t think I should accept any statements released on his behalf through the press office without making quite clear in the story that he’s issued a statement rather than deal with the Mercury directly.
I grudgingly accept why statements are issued on behalf of officers through the press office, but elected members should deal directly with me. If they won’t then surely readers need to be told.
For as long as I can pick up the phone to Veejay Patel, the leader of Leicester City Council, to get a response from him at a moment’s notice, I expect to be able to do the same for the leader of the county council.
10am update: Fair play to David Parsons, he’s called me from the continent. “Let’s sort this out,” he says. I’ll keep readers posted.
Era of openness
May 17th
Whisper it, but it looks like the city council has done the right thing, and dropped plans to ban Twitter in council meetings.
When faced with a choice between open government and a culture of secrecy, they’ve gone for openness. Is Veejay’s ‘era of openness’ starting to emerge?
Well, no. You needn’t thank the politicians for this. As you’ve probably picked up from stories I’ve written on this subject already, the Labour group’s movers and shakers were in favour of a ban. Don’t forget, it was Veejay who refused to condemn the move.
Instead it needed a (very) senior council officer to intervene and turn the screw to get it dropped, and rightly so.
More of this, please.
The city council fail whale
Mar 29th
I wrote a story in Saturday’s Mercury that Leicester City Council is considering banning Twitter in the council chamber.
It was sparked by a complaint from Labour chief whip Barbara Potter.
Councillor Potter, to her credit, didn’t shy away from defending her position when I called her late last week.
But my issue isn’t with Barbara; she’s the whip and it’s her job to keep members in line.
I want to know why Veejay Patel won’t rule it out and kill the issue stone dead as part of his era of openness.
At the very least it’s naive politics, because his vague response means the issue will run and run. Instead of playing down the influence of Twitter in city politics it elevates it.
What’s the betting that a record number of people – many of them Leicester Twitter users – tune into the next full council meeting?
I wonder if the council will release the web stats?
Ross Willmott’s farewell note
Mar 26th
It’s likely to have been the last official letter sent by Ross Willmott bearing the title Leader of the Council.
Dated March 24, a ‘thank you’ letter was sent out to various figures across the city listing his achievements, including High Cross, Curve and Phoenix Square.
He says his time as leader has been an “amazing” and his only wish is that his work carries on.
It also offered some choice words of warning to his successor Veejay Patel:
“I hope that my successors continue in the same spirit of excellence and ambition and remember the words of Marcus Aurelius: ‘It is the fate of princes to be ill thought of for well doing.”
Colin Hall scoops them all…
Mar 15th
Labour leadership night in Leicester, and what a serene affair it was too.
With a clever system of self-nomination, and a closing date well in advance of the meeting, you avoid nasty surprise challenges come party polling day.
Done and dusted in 60 minutes. I barely had time to finish a late night scotch egg and cup of coffee in the office before the Labour councillors were filing out.
I spoke to some councillors for their reaction, but we already had the results, of course, courtesy of Colin Hall’s Twitter account. Keep on going like that and we’ll be out of a job…
Three contenders. Veejay Patel – front runner, Mary Draycott – the challenger, and Manish Sood – throwing his hat into the ring. In the end he got one vote. What on earth was he up to? I still can’t figure it out. Veejay won the day, and Mary put in a fairly respectable showing. There were two spoilt ballot papers. Wonder who.
Other party positions were dished out which have little relevance to those outside the party, but are interesting nonetheless.
Barbara Potter was nominated as chief whip. One councillor gave me a call after the meeting and growled: “One of the most outspoken critics of the council on issues like market policy and road conditions is suddenly in charge of maintaining order in the party and a united front. I can’t decide whether it’s genius or madness.”
Piara Singh Clair had dropped out of the chief whip race at the last minute. “Must have been offered a cabinet position,” winked one wag on leaving the meeting. We’ll wait and see. The cabinet will be selected on March 23.
One other point, it was confidently predicted by those closest to Coun Patel last month that he had 27 cast-iron votes in the bag. He ended up with 24.
So who are the trio that deserted him at the final hurdle, and why?
Veejay and Vi
Mar 10th
It’s five days until Leicester’s Labour councillors select a new leader.
Veejay Patel is still the apparent front runner. He has, after all, got current deputy Vi Dempster by his side, he was first out of the traps to launch his bid for the leadership, and he also wants a transparent vote to show the party how much support he has.
Normally during a leadership election political reporters are inundated with calls from potential candidates hoping to boost their profile in the run-up to a vote. But not this time.
Is the match-up between Vi and Veejay too powerful to contend with? Would challenging them be a political kamikaze act? Is it still, as one member was quoted in the Mercury as saying, the Dream Ticket?
We’ll know by Monday.
Leadership observations
Feb 25th
For a leadership contender, Manish Sood is awfully quiet. He didn’t say a word at full council on Wednesday. Another contender, Mary Draycott, didn’t say anything on the budget and instead got into a fair old flap with the opposition over the Walkers Stadium Market. I don’t know who came off worse, to be honest.
Veejay Patel, as expected, spoke quite a lot. He’s the finance lead, after all, so he had to deliver the budget. Plenty of little jibes at the opposition, gearing up for the possibility of becoming leader. Give the troops what they want.
But did anyone step forward to rally the troops? Perhaps with a little bit of opposition-bashing to throw some meat to party faithful? Yes indeed. Step forward, Stephen Corrall. “It’s getting like a leadership beauty contest, this,” announced Lib Dem leader Pete Coley with a smile after Stephen had a right old pop at the Tory and Lib Dem benches.
But a partisan tubthumper until the last, Ross Willmott delivered some of the most withering put-downs of the night.
He scolded Hussein Suleman for an “empty-headed rant”, said he never expected to see the day the Conservative group put forward a council tax rise which was higher than Labour, and even corrected a claim that he had “four minutes left” in his post as the meeting drew to a close.
Wagging a finger he said: “I’m council Labour leader until the 15th, actually.” He’s a stickler for the details, that Ross.
11am UPDATE: The comment by Ross in the comments section is, of course, correct. The positions of leader of the Labour group and leader of the council are two separate things. Happy to clarify that he will be leader of the group until March 15, but leader of the council until March 25. Complicated this, isn’t it readers?
City council sub-plots
Feb 23rd
Typical. You wait days for a half-decent council meeting then two come along at once.
Both the City and County councils hold their budget-setting council meetings today. I’ll be up at County Hall for 2pm, then zooming back to the town hall for the City’s meet-up at 5pm.
Both budgets are likely to be approved as a formality so it’s worth keeping an eye on some sub-plots instead.
It’s Ross Willmott’s last full-council meeting as leader and it’ll be his likely replacement, finance lead Veejay Patel, who’ll deliver the budget.
Will opposition criticism be directed at the outgoing leader, or will the focus turn to the man many think will replace him?
Two rivals have already emerged as leadership contenders – Mary Draycott and Manish Sood. If they speak to the proposals, their comments will be scrutinised for hints on how they plan to sell their candidacy to fellow Labour members. Could they even try to put some clear blue water between themselves and the front runner by giving some gentle “constructive criticism” on his budget proposals? Unlikely but worth keeping an eye on.
Elsewhere Patrick Kitterick, seen as part of Team Willmott, has been remarkably coy over his leadership ambitions. He was “considering his options” last time the Mercury spoke to him. If he speaks to the proposals, will it include full-throated praise of Willmott’s leadership of the council, or will he attempt to distance himself as he looks to his political future?
With the meeting being effectively a rubber-stamping exercise, the most interesting tidbits will be discovered in the corridors of power before and after the meeting. As ever, if I hear anything, I’ll let you know.
