The press 9th october

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Friday October 9, 2015

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No. 706

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Councillor de-selected by party By David Miller News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk

A COUNCILLOR has been dropped amid a row which has rocked a Dewsbury Labour Party branch. Coun Karen Rowling (Lab, Dewsbury West) lost a bid to stand for re-election in May at a meeting last Thursday night. New candidate Mussarat Pervaiz won by 38 votes to 12 at the Ravensthorpe Community Centre poll. Coun Rowling would have been going for a second term, having been first elected in 2012. Branch chairman Paul Ellis claimed there were concerns about Coun Rowling’s lack of attendance at branch meetings, which she disputed. He said: “We’ve had 11 meetings in this last year and she’s turned up to three. “Members expect that the three (ward) councillors should at least turn up and give them a report.” Mirfield-based Coun Rowling claimed that to her knowledge there have only

DITCHED: Coun Karen Rowling been three branch meetings in Dewsbury West this year. She added: “I attended one plus the selection meeting. I sent my apologies for the other two as they clashed with other councillor appointments. “According to the minutes from the other branch meetings, Mussarrat Pervaiz hasn’t attended any. “So I find it difficult to believe that the reason for my de-selection is non-attendance at branch meetings.” Coun Rowling is office manager for Labour MP Paula Sherriff, which some members reputedly saw as a conflict of interest. Mr Ellis said: “It would be

unhealthy for a councillor to be running PR for the MP.” Coun Rowling hit back and said: “I’m completely at a loss as to why this would be seen as a problem. “Many MPs’ staff and office managers are councillors. And the role is far wider than simply ‘running PR’. “A large part is dealing with constituents and helping them with their issues and problems. “It’s also about forging strong links with individuals, community groups and businesses in the area.” Mrs Pervaiz, 37, is a lunchtime supervisor at Diamond Wood Community Academy in Ravensthorpe. The mum-of-two, who lost out on selection in 2012 to Coun Rowling, said: “I’m delighted to have been selected. “The members said they wanted a change, but it was very difficult for me to stand against a sitting councillor.” Campaigning already, she highlighted local litter, schools and explaining benefit changes as issues she would address. Coun Rowling claimed her

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