Osterley Councillor's Labour Party Membership Suspended


Richard Eason believed to have been sanctioned for Streetspace criticisms


Cllr Richard Eason has been suspended for a month. Picture: Richard Eason/Twitter

A Labour councillor on Hounslow Council has been suspended from the party for a month.

Sources within the party are saying that the suspension of Richard Eason, who represents Osterley and Spring Grove, is a result of criticisms he made of the council leader Steve Curran and other cabinet members over the implementation of Streetspace measures across the borough.

The comments came as the interim review by independent consultants, Steer, showed a high level of opposition from residents to most of the schemes.

His party designation on the council web site listings of councillors has been changed from Labour to Independent.

Last November, Cllr Eason was the lead signatory on a request to call-in the council’s decision to significantly expand the number of Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes across the borough in what would be the third phase of the Streetspace programme. Seven other Labour councillors signed the request.

Cllr Eason said, “As you may be aware from various sources, I have been suspended from Hounslow Labour Group (the Labour Councillors at LBH) for a period of one month. I remain an active and committed member of the Labour and Co-operative Parties and will be returning to Labour Group on 18th June. In the meantime, it would be more accurate to describe my political designation as ‘Independent Labour & Co-operative’.”

He added that he was currently working on getting the word out about the surge testing programme to be implemented in the borough and is to attend three events with CleanUp Hounslow for Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean, which starts next Friday.

Hounslow Council has been approached for comment.

To have your say on any of Hounslow’s trial Streetspace schemes click on this link or email the transport team on traffic@hounslow.gov.uk.

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May 21, 2021