By Tony O’Reilly-
Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, (pictured)has been accused of bullying and the failure to tackle anti-semitism . Fiaz has also bene accused of “regularly treated people unfairly” over the past two years, as several councillors signed complaints against her.
A number of councillors in Newham have handed in their resignation over the issue that is adding problems to the Labour party which has failed to address the problem. Most serious of the complaint are the charges of anti semitism which labour leader Keir Starmer has tried to extirpate from the party following his take over from former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
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The disturbing allegations will further discredit the labour party in the absence of a formal investigation to the series of complaints which the Mayor’s accusers say Fiaz and her party are actively avoiding. Charges of antisemitism are a thorny issue from the past they would rather not revisit.
Precise details of the anti-semitism complained about have not been provided, but aggrieved parties say an investigation would reveal every minute detail. There have been calls for the Mayor to step down from her position as a result to the series of complains against her.
Cllr Pat Murphy said he had quit the Labour group on Newham Council because he felt the party had not investigated the allegations. The party is said to have been absolutely quiet about the serious complaints
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“There has been nothing other than silence from the party,” he added.
The complaint alleges: “Her (Ms Fiaz’s) behaviour has created a hostile, intimidating and oppressive environment within the group during meetings, causing members to feel unable to freely express their views on issues of concern to them.
“Ms Fiaz’s behaviour is making members feel afraid and unable and unwilling to question and hold her administration to scrutiny within private meetings of the group.
“The fear of being bullied and harassed by Ms Fiaz in both public and private is intolerable.”
The complaint adds that requests from the councillors for Ms Fiaz to stop the alleged “untenable” behaviour had “not been heeded”.
Cllr Murphy went as far as saying that he thinks Ms Fiaz is “completely unfit for office”.
Cllr Quintin Peppiatt, who spent 15 years as a cabinet member for children and young people until Ms Fiaz’s election in 2018, has also left the Labour group.
Peppiat and an unnamed colleague complained to Labour in November 2020 alleging Ms Fiaz had failed to tackle alleged antisemitism in Newham Labour, but he said neither Ms Fiaz or Labour responded.
Like Cllr Murphy, Cllr Peppiatt said the “final straw” was Ms Fiaz’s selection as Labour’s candidate for mayor without a resolution to the complaint
“I have no confidence in the Labour Party taking this issue at all seriously.
“In an ideal world, I want to stay in the Labour Party but I didn’t feel I could do that with the lack of action on this matter.”
Cllr Peppiatt, a reverend, said he also sent the complaint to Newham Council, but was told it was a party matter.
He claimed that he received a letter to say he had been excluded from Labour in three days – compared to more than a year without a response to his complaint.
Additionally, he also cited the closure of Newham City Farm as another reason for his resignation, saying he “fundamentally disagreed” with the decision to cut funding.
Cllr Peppiatt said: “After 25 years, it’s right for me to step down. I’ve done my bit.
“I’m very proud of my record and it’s time to go.”
Labour has a bad track record of dealing with anti semitism over the years, and this latest revelation is bad for the reputation of the party.
The Labour party and Newham labour was contacted for comment. The labour party declined to comment.
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