 We welcome Clare Kober’s decision yesterday to stand down in May and leave the decision whether to proceed with the HDV to the next leader of the council. The decision would have been particularly welcomed if it had been made in the spirit of having listened to Haringey residents. We are saddened however, that she chose this moment to add, to the well-worn charges that Haringey council has been the victim of a coup by hard left members of the Labour party, the allegations of ‘sexism, bullying, undemocratic behaviour and outright personal attacks’. All this leads to speculation Kober is suffering from 'sour grapes' in here decision to step down during May's election, rather then not be re-selected in a democratic vote. The Stop the HDV campaign is a broad-based group made up of people from different parties, sexes, races and cultures. At no point have any acts of sexism, bullying or undemocratic behaviour been in play. Kober's bitter attitude to her loss of power has been obviously crippling personally, but her attitude regarding a democratic voting system concerning. Kober's tactics fell short in keeping overall control over the HDV project afloat, aiding to her falling on the controversial sword she had aggressively defended.  The HDV would have affected council tenants, housing trust tenants and home owners and they are all represented in the group. At least fifty percent of the group are women and they have been extremely active in the campaign; organising marches, chairing meetings and speaking on behalf of the group.
Labour has used its democratic right to protest against the HDV, attend public meetings and speak openly about oppositions to this policy which was feelt would be devastating to the community. Many women, particularly single parents, would have been adversely affected by the HDV. Items Kober has avoided in reporting. Those who are members of the Labour party chose to support candidates opposed to the HDV in the democratic selections so that they had candidates who represent the views rather than those who think they know what is best for the community. Numerous sitting councillors chose not to fight for their seats, and many able women have been chosen to stand as Labour candidates in May. Many women have experienced sexism and agree that no woman should be subjected to it. However, this campaign has been about Clare Kober’s attempt to impose the HDV not about her as a woman. Clair Kober's democratic fall from grace on to her own sword was of her own creation. As a councillor she managed to not listen to her constituency over the controversial development partnership with LendLease Ms Kober, vocal opposition to an unpopular policy which is being implemented in a paternalistic way without proper consultation is not bullying or sexism, it is democracy. Women of the Labour Party. Florence Allaway (Stop the HDV campaign, Muswell Hill Ward) Jackie Baker (Stop the HDV campaign, Wood Green Ward) Lynda Brennan (Haringey Theatre, Haringey resident) Milena Buyum (Chair St Ann’s Labour party) Sarah Cave (Stop the HDV Campaign, Haringey Ward) Wendy Charlton (Wood Green Resident) Lucy Craig (Green Party) Alison Davy (Northumberland Park Decides) Janet Grant (Haringey Resident) Melissa Friedberg (Chair Haringey Unite Community Branch) Sue Hughes (Ass. Sec of Hornsey and Wood Green Labour Party) Moriam Islam (Northumberland Park Decides) Sam Leggat (Northumberland Park Decides) Anne McTaggart (Stop the HDV campaign, Haringey resident) Imelda O’Brien (Stop the HDV campaign, Haringey Ward) Hilary Adams (Vice Chair, Bruce Grove Labour party, Vice Chair Unite Community Branch) Stephanie Grant (Stop the HDV campaign, Haringey Resident) Lyn Silver-Markell (Northumberland Park Decides) Jenny Sutton (Stop the HDV campaign, Haringey Resident) Joy Wallace (Labour party, Haringey resident) Adjoa Wiredu Haringey Resident) Kate Worsley (Haringey Resident) Sharon Wright (Stop the HDV campaign, Hornsey Resident)
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