Barnes vows to remain on council (From Hillingdon Times)

Barnes vows to remain on council

10:56am Sunday 4th May 2008

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THE defeated candidates for the Ealing and Hillingdon London Assembly seat have called on the winner to step down from the local council.

Ranjit Dheer and Nigel Bakhai supported the idea of assembly member Richard Barnes stepping down from his seat on Hillingdon Council.

Mr Dheer, who stood in the election for the Labour Party, said: "He can't really do two jobs.

"I know how difficult it is to be on the council and do a fulltime job.

"Mr Barnes is conning the tax payers by holding two posts, and he should step down from one of them."

His calls were supported by Mr Bakhai, the Lib Dem candidate who was defeated in Thursday's election.

He said: "Is he really providing value for money for the residents of Hillingdon?

"I think he should concentrate on his role on the London Assembly and give local people in Hillingdon a new councillor who can look after their local interests."

But Mr Barnes, who represents Harefield ward on the council, rejected the calls for him to resign.

He said: "Being a councillor is not a fulltime job, as everybody knows.

"For two people in Ealing worrying about the state of my health is very gratifying.

"I live in the constituency, I shop in my local ward, and local people have told me to stay on."

Mr Barnes said he was looking forward to starting work at the London Assembly with the new administration, and proimised to continue representing the local people of his ward as well as the residents of Ealing and Hillingdon.

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