The leader of the Conservatives at Bracknell Forest Council has reacted to the news of the suspension of the leader of the council from the Labour Party.
Mary Temperton, the council leader, and Dr Roy Bailey, the cabinet member for children and young people, have both been suspended from Labour pending investigation.
The probe has been initiated over a fundraiser cllrs Temperton and Bailey allegedly helped with for the former mayor, Naheed Ejaz, who was convicted of helping her son, Diwan Khan, hide a phone which had evidence of him raping a 15-year-old girl.
Ejaz served as the mayor of Bracknell Forest from May 2023 to April 2024, and as a councillor from May 2023 to September 2024, resigning from the council after her arrest.
The Labour councillors have received criticism from cllr Gareth Barnard, the leader of the Conservatives on the council, who has been aware of the suspensions since rumours started last Friday.
Cllr Barnard (Conservative, Whitegrove) said: “If there is any truth in the allegation that the Labour Party is investigating that they sanctioned fundraising activity, it’s a kick in the teeth for the victim and their family, they have been ignored in this.
“This relates to a 15-year-old who has been raped. Ejaz was convicted of perverting the course of justice.
“Their suspension does have an impact, because they are suspended, it reduces the Labour group from 20 to 18.
“This goes to the heart of good governance, as leader of the council, you have an absolute duty to be open and transparent with the residents.
“I’ve been a councillor for just under 29 years. A victim’s life has been destroyed for a long time, for the rest of their lives.”
Khan and Ejaz were convicted at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, February 12.
Cllr Barnard had accused the councillors of trying to cover up news about the suspensions.
Since then, both cllrs Temperton and Bailey resigned from their positions on Tuesday, March 3, the day the suspensions were officially confirmed.
Cllr Barnard said: “It looked like a cover-up and a deflection.
“We would have responded quickly in a timely manner; it’s about doing the right thing.
“There is a duty to be open about it. No one is guilty until an investigation has taken place, but I think they should have been more open and transparent.
“We’re not trying to make it political; this is about the victim and their family.
“These two names are quite significant: the council leader and cllr, Bailey, who is the chair of the constituency Labour Party.
“I don’t know what the party will find; it is up to them to suspend them.
“They are rumoured to be involved in a financial fundraiser for Ejaz, who was in a difficult position, and the Labour councillors felt it appropriate to have a Labour-sponsored fundraiser for her.
“It seems to be tone deaf. I don’t know when this fundraiser took place, but it’s entirely inappropriate for a party to fundraise for a person in that situation.
“What concerns me is the message it sends to the victim and the reputational damage to the council, which has been historically very well run – this detracts from the good work that is going on.
“I’ve tried to be constructive and respect the political change in 2023, but Labour in Bracknell are not doing a good job; they should be dealing with their internal affairs in an upright way.
“This is an egregious failure. There are some unhappy people in Bracknell Forest, which brings disrepute on a council, which has a duty to help residents and protect the most vulnerable.
“I feel really strongly about this; it’s not about individuals, it’s about doing the right thing.”
The resignations have led to a change in the senior leadership of the council.
Cllr Helen Purnell (Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings) will be acting as leader of the council until a new leader is officially selected at a full council meeting.
