Resolution to suspend Council Leader Richard Farnell overwhelmingly defeated

Councilor Richard Farnell

A resolution from the Littleborough & Lakeside Labour Party calling upon the Labour Party to suspend Councillor Richard Farnell, while awaiting the report of the Inquiry into Sexual Abuse at Knowl View and Cambridge House in Rochdale, was overwhelmingly defeated at a meeting of the General Management Committee (GMC) of the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) on Friday.

The resolution was defeated with 31 votes against, nine for and two abstentions.

The resolution called on the Labour Party to suspend Councillor Richard Farnell and investigate events at the Council, while awaiting the final report of the Inquiry into institutional failings which may have allowed the sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable children at Cambridge House, Knowl View and elsewhere in Rochdale to take place.

A Labour spokesman said: “Richard Farnell has the overwhelming support both among Labour councillors and in the Party.

“The Labour Party’s advice is that members should not seek to prejudge or comment on the Independent Inquiry while it is still ongoing.

“The overriding concern for all members should be supporting the Inquiry to establish why the council and other agencies failed to protect young people. Our thoughts should be with the victims - not on how to use this as a political football.”

A member of the GMC of the CLP who voted for Councillor Farnell's suspension, but who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "A large part of the meeting was taken up attempting not to debate the resolution."