Cllr Barrie Anderson with Mayor Steve Bullock LC3968-02
A VETERAN councillor's reign as leader of Lewisham's Tories is over, after his party dumped him by email.
Councillor Barrie Anderson was emailed by his deputy on Friday, to tell him he was being removed from the leader's post he has held for eight years.
But incredibly the stunned Tory only found about the decision three days later, when News Shopper called him and advised him to check his inbox.
Cllr Anderson has been ditched
as leader after a row over his plans
to join the new-look Labour-led
cabinet.
In the email leaked to News Shopper, former deputy leader Councillor David Britton announces he will be taking over as number one.
Cllr Britton accuses Cllr Anderson of a "serious breach of party discipline" by entering discussions about joining the cabinet.
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He also makes it clear his fellow Grove Park councillor "no longer represents the position of Lewisham Conservatives" on any issue.
The damning email was sent to a host of opposition party members and Mayor Steve Bullock.
Cllr Barrie Anderson checks his inbox LC2966-10
But Cllr Anderson only found out he had been dumped when News Shopper called him on Monday, to get his reaction to the news.
The shocked ex-leader, who has been a Conservative activist for 20 years, sounded hurt as he read the email.
He then refused to comment, other than saying he would "continue to serve the people of Grove Park, as I have since I became a councillor".
Opposition parties were approached to join the cabinet after Labour lost 14 councillors at the elections.
The Lib Dems and Greens who have 23 members in the new-look council chamber turned down the opportunity.
News Shopper now understands Cllr Anderson has decided not to
accept a cabinet position.
James Cleverly, who stood for the Tories in the mayoral elections,
admits he has sympathy with his colleague's position.
But he says a coalition cabinet would not have worked because Lewisham has a directly-elected mayor.
He said: "We have always said
we wanted to see more diversity
in Lewisham but we do not want to be the one party propping up Labour.
"It would not be a proper coalition cabinet. Even if there were 50 Tory councillors and one Labour mayor, he would still have the power."
Lib Dem leader Councillor Mark Morris said Cllr Anderson had
been "sucked in" by the political
system.
He added: "He entered into discussions about a cabinet post without thinking of the implications for his own party."
Newly-elected Green councillor Sue Luxton says her party will not be "jumping into bed with Labour".
News Shopper was unable to contact Cllr Britton at the time of going to press.
THE CRUX OF THE INBOX INCIDENT
"Councillor Barrie Anderson has been removed from the leadership of the Conservative Group
following his mishandling of the Cabinet and Council organisation issues and an error which amounts to a breach of party discipline.
"Everyone concerned with negotiations over the new Cabinet should be aware that Councillor
Anderson no longer represents the position of Lewisham Conservatives in constituency or
council, or, indeed within Conservatives within London or nationally over any issue of his
accepting a Cabinet post.
"If he does so, he will be doing it in his personal capacity as a member of Lewisham Council who happens to be a Conservative."
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