Dumped former Mayor wins re-vote after controversial poll

FORMER mayor Roger Robinson has been re-selected as a Labour candidate for next year’s council elections following a controversial re-vote of members in Somers Town.
Councillor Robinson, who has more than 20 years of experience at the Town Hall, was sensationally dumped in an original selection vote last month, leading supporters to claim he had been “kicked in the teeth”.
But the branch was rocked by complaints that two voters had taken part in the poll even though they did not have the required six month’s membership.
The party balloted members again on Monday night – and this time Cllr Robinson emerged victorious. He edged out deputy mayor Councillor Abdul Quadir, a winner in the first vote but a loser in the crucial second ballot.
Cllr Robinson was unavailable for comment yesterday (Wednesday) but close friends say that he is delighted to have been re-selected in one of Labour’s prized strongholds. After losing the first vote, he told of his heartache at being dumped. “Somers Town was my life,” he said.
This time around it was Cllr Quadir – who abandoned his marginal Highgate constituency in an attempt to stand in the rock solid Labour Somers Town ward – who was left miffed at the selection process. The defeat threatened to wreck his long-held dream of becoming Mayor next year – a position he is almost certain to be offered if returned at the elections in May.
On Tuesday, Cllr Quadir said: “I’m really disappointed. Five weeks ago I was selected – five weeks later I’m deselected. I went to Somers Town because there was a vacancy when Sybil Shine said she was going to step down.”
But his gloom was lifted last night (Wednesday) when he was handed a last-minute lifeline by his party colleagues.
He was voted in as a candidate for Camden Town and Primrose Hill – the last of the wards that Labour considers to be a ‘safe’ prospect at the ballot box.