A North Tyneside councillor has said her suspension from the ruling Labour Party is down to her stance on High Borrans – and that she would “do it again”.
Coun Rebecca O’Keefe has claimed the removal of the Labour whip is due to her refusal to follow the governing group’s line on the closure of the council’s Cumbria-based outdoor education centre.
Vote Against Party Line
At the last full council meeting on July 23, Coun O’Keefe was the sole Labour member to vote in favour of a motion, brought by Tory councillors, calling for a pause to the closure of the centre. The motion also called for a “full review” of all options available.
Since then, Coun O’Keefe also became an inaugural member of The Save High Borrans campaign, a group made up of councillors from opposing parties, as well as the GMB union, the Friends of High Borrans, and local residents and activists.
Councillor's Response
Now, Coun O’Keefe has spoken out about her suspension, of which the Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen correspondence, saying she accepts the party’s verdict but will continue to campaign for the centre.
Coun Rebecca O’Keefe said: “Would I do it again? Absolutely. This was explained to group officers during my hearing regarding High Borrans. I was elected to represent residents, not just to nod politely and hope nobody notices.
“I live in my ward, I know the community, and I believe I have a responsibility to stand up for residents – especially our children and young people across the whole of North Tyneside. Some have reported that the High Borrans campaign team is giving people ‘false hope’. I disagree. Hope isn’t false simply because the answer isn’t guaranteed. What we, as a campaign team, would like is to secure time to sit down as a team with council officers and properly explore options for High Borrans whilst aiming to keep this local authority asset. This would also mean pausing the November closure. To give time to bring everyone around the table to look into this thoroughly.”
Council's Position
North Tyneside Council’s Labour group has previously stated that High Borrans has become financially unviable, citing a £3m improvement bill, declining school trips, and council subsidy of £165 per child, including out-of-borough pupils. The ruling group has also stated that several options for the site have been considered, including its conversion into an Airbnb or a hotel, but none have proved feasible.
Labour has also stated that the money that would be spent on High Borrans would have to be taken away from frontline council services.
Consequences
Coun O’Keefe concluded: “I accept that I broke the rules, and I accept the consequences. But sometimes doing the right thing isn’t about taking the easy route – it’s about having the courage to take the difficult one. I would rather face the consequences of standing up for my residents than explain to them why I didn’t.”
Coun O’Keefe will have the whip withdrawn for an “indefinite period of time” and will only be able to reapply for it after a minimum of six months. She will not be allowed to attend party group meetings or take part in the group’s decision-making process.
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the Labour Group said it did not offer running commentary on internal disciplinary issues.
