Voters urged to ‘decapitate’ anti-social MPs

A PROMINENT Labour Party member in Highgate is pressing for a “decapitation” strategy to get rid of government ministers.
Secretary of the party’s Hampstead and Highgate branch, Ben Cosin – whose wife Maggie is a Highgate Labour councillor – called on the electorate to get rid of “anti-social” and “fascist” politicians in a furious broadside aimed at Labour rule nationally and at Camden Council during a public meeting on Thursday night.
His election hit-list includes Home Secretary Charles Clarke and his parliamentary under-secretary Fiona McTaggart.
In a potentially embarrassing development for Labour organisers, determined to maintain a united front in the run-up to the general election on May 5, Mr Cosin is even passing around addresses of websites which advise on tactical voting and in some cases recommend against supporting Labour.
Mr Cosin let rip at the launch meeting of Asbo Concern pressure group at Friends Meeting House in Euston Road, Euston, where he said the general election gave voters the chance to opt for “a policy of decapitation”. He added: “We need to get rid of the anti-social MPs. I am talking about Home Secretary Charles Clarke. His predecessor (David Blunkett) was no better. Jack Straw, ditto. Fiona McTaggart, you should see what she has to say in private conversations about travellers.”
Ironically, the tactical voting advice against Ms McTaggart could indirectly help Swiss Cottage Conservative councillor Sheila Gunn, who is standing against Ms McTaggart in Labour-held Slough.
Mr Cosin told the 200-strong meeting: “I urge you to get in touch with websites – I came across them when I was having problems with the war last year – and find out how to oppose the anti-social MPs and fascism from this government and from Camden Council.”
Mr Cosin, later said his comments were not directed at Hampstead and Highgate candidate Glenda Jackson, or Holborn and St Pancras’s Frank Dobson.
Labour members in Camden often talk privately about their dissatisfaction with colleagues at Westminster but Mr Cosin is the first prominent figure within the party to hit out in public.
Afterwards, he told the New Journal: “The ones I did mention are already pretty notorious. We need to get rid of them.”