Tory Brian Coleman to be sacked from Barnet Council's Conservative cabinet

11:02am Thursday 10th May 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Hewett

Controversial Tory Brian Coleman (centre) is set to be ousted from Barnet Council's cabinet, the Times Series understands Controversial Tory Brian Coleman (centre) is set to be ousted from Barnet Council's cabinet, the Times Series understands

Defeated Tory Brian Coleman is set to be ousted from Barnet Council’s cabinet in a move to shield the party from further backlash against the controversial politician, the Times Series understands.

The cabinet member for Environment lost his Barnet and Camden GLA seat to Labour rival Andrew Dismore by some 21,000 votes last week, a disastrous polling that looks to have left his political career in tatters.

Having been stripped of the chairmanship of the London Fire Authority, the Totteridge representative is now set to lose his influential seat on Barnet’s cabinet under proposals from group leader Richard Cornelius.

Cllr Coleman will be appointed chairman of the budget and performance overview and scrutiny committee in a straight swap with Golders Green councillor Dean Cohen, who will take over the environment portfolio.

The proposals, which were sent round to Conservative group members before their party meeting at Hendon town hall tonight, will go ahead unless a two thirds majority opposes the move.

A party source told the Times Series: “I would be shocked if this was opposed – it hasn’t happened in eight years. There is no inkling whatsoever that anyone is looking to oppose this.”

The stripping of his cabinet role means the once £120,000-a-year politician will be left with an expenses allowance of £10,000 to £14,000.

His appointment as chairman of the budget committee may also shock some given the Tory politician's record on claiming controversial expenses.

In July 2007 he was criticised by the then London mayor Ken Livingstone for claiming £10,000 in taxi fares across one year, including a £417 ride from his Finchley home to a GLA meeting where the driver kept the meter running.

More recently he racked up a £1,000 lunch bill for himself and his Tory colleagues at the London Fire Brigade Museum which he threatened to close to save money.

Mr Coleman said he did not want to comment when contacted by the Times Series.

Comments(18)

educated says...
11:16am Thu 10 May 12

Rumours that Mr Coleman will have to start selling 'Big Issue' to maintain his lifestyle, are entirely unfounded !

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BarnetTrader says...
11:24am Thu 10 May 12

Hooray!

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Barnet Resident says...
11:24am Thu 10 May 12

This is the best news I've heard in a long time.

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blibrary says...
2:04pm Thu 10 May 12

Hooray! Cracks are widening in this failing tory-led council

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golders green spokesman says...
4:06pm Thu 10 May 12

Nice News

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Mr Worried says...
6:55pm Thu 10 May 12

Ah, to quote Mrs Thatcher:

JUST REJOICE AT THAT NEWS!

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Rog T says...
7:26pm Thu 10 May 12

Lord help us if Brian Coleman does to the budget what he did to parking in Barnet. He should be put in charge of nothing more arduous than counting paperclips

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BarnetTrader says...
7:51pm Thu 10 May 12

I think he should be employed to empty the new parking meters! In fact, doesn't his new role include responsibility for counting up all the coins?

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Dino_Rizzoni says...
9:44pm Thu 10 May 12

Yippee! Hooray, Hoorah! Coleman is finally getting his dues. Now, if the methodist church could throw him out of his subsidised accommodation he could finally have a crack at "living in the real world" !

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hunters999 says...
10:29pm Thu 10 May 12

A very sad day for democracy if true, A good man forced out by a bunch of hooligans

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TrueBlu says...
10:51pm Thu 10 May 12

To be honest this man has been incredibly rude on many occasions to a wide verity of people. He is exactly what the Conservative Party need to distance themselves from and Barnet will be better off without his input and damaging attitude. He brought much of this upon himself so have no pity for such a man.

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Rog T says...
11:44pm Thu 10 May 12

Hunters999,

So you think that the electorate of Barnet and Camden are a bunch of hooligans? Can I have some of what you are smoking?

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Mrs Angry, Broken Barnet blog says...
12:46am Fri 11 May 12

One of the things you have in common with your hero, hunters999 is an odd habit of writing words with Inappropriate Capital letters. Very interesting. Also interesting is to see the words democracy, Brian Coleman, and a good man in the same sentence.
Best wishes,

Mrs Angry - hooligan

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exiledgeordie says...
11:52am Fri 11 May 12

Well done the people of Barnet, its about time this ignoramous was brought down to earth. Of course he did not want to comment when contacted by the times you cannot defend the indefensible.

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Rosie Canning says...
1:20pm Fri 11 May 12

Oh, what fabulous news, what a fabulous day. People power!!

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Grumblepop says...
3:23pm Sat 12 May 12

@hunters999 says...

"A very sad day for democracy if true, A good man forced out by a bunch of hooligans"

I agree with you. Next time you should vote for democracy and boot the ruling Tory hooligans out of the Town Wall.

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PJC6N12 says...
1:15pm Mon 14 May 12

educated wrote:
Rumours that Mr Coleman will have to start selling 'Big Issue' to maintain his lifestyle, are entirely unfounded !
A result proving that arrogance doesn't pay. Hopefully this also means his expense account is frozen!!

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nw7resident says...
2:10pm Mon 14 May 12

Good!

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