Residents' outcry as 'Mr Croft Baker' Matthew Brown is deselected as Labour candidate
Croft Baker ward councillor Matthew Brown has been deselected as a Labour candidate for the ward
Connor LynchReporter
06:00, 2 MAR 2018
Croft Baker ward councillor Matthew Brown
Croft baker ward councillor Matthew Brown has been deselected as a candidate in the upcoming local elections.
He lost out by just one vote in his party's selection process, and is dubbed "Mr Croft Baker" by many of his residents, who are unhappy about it.
They see him as a councillor who is "always there for you" and goes out of his way to ensure that the residents of his ward are catered for and looked after.
Members of the new, Cleethorpes Jo Cox Community Action Group, from left, Lynn Sayles, Peter Kingsford, Roy Horobin and Trevor Gibson.Missing from the picture is Darren Linford. (Image: Rick Byrne)
Lynn Sayles, who runs popular social media group DN35 Crimewatch and member of the Jo Cox Community Action Team, expressed her sadness that Councillor Brown would not be given the chance to represent his ward once again, believing his deselection will be damaging to the area.
She said: "I have been speaking with local traders and the community who all believe that this decision will affect everyone, not just Councillor Brown.
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"I and many others are very sad to hear that he has been deselected and we all know that this is the wrong decision.
"Councillor Brown is possibly one of the best councillors in the whole area, he lives and breathes for his ward Croft Baker, to the point where many know him as Mr Croft Baker. He has been totally dedicated to take on any issue on behalf of his residents no matter how big or small.
"I know from my group DN35 Crimewatch that any time we have asked him for help for our members, he has always been there to tackle the problem. Going after crime, anti-social-behaviour, professional beggars, speeding along the promenade and many other issues that affect the community.
"I am very worried that Councillor Brown being deselected, will jeopardise any work that we are doing within the area, and worry that should there be any replacement for him, that we won't have the same dedication and input as we do with him.
"I would without a doubt call on the Labour Party, to reappoint Cllr Matthew Brown to stand as candidate for Croft Baker ward. I see no reason why there would be anyone else needed to replace him, he has done so much work for the area."
Matthew Brown meeting with the Bangladeshi Community and Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter.
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Mohammed Sahen Miah, a member of the Bangladeshi community in Croft Baker, felt that the party has "gone backwards" with their decision to deselect the councillor.
He said: "I am from the Bangladeshi community in Cleethorpes, and Matthew has always been there for us. To date he has been best councillor we ever had.
"He has helped not only our community, but being a member of Labour Party, I have seen massive improvement in all areas since he became councillor.
"We are very disappointed that Councillor Brown has been deselected and we feel we have gone backwards rather than forward."
Councillor Brown and Andy Cox.
Andy Cox, the head coach of the Grimsby Boxing Academy, who have recently secured premises in Croft Baker spoke of his "horror" that Councillor Brown would no longer be representing the ward.
He said: "I was horrified to hear that Councillor Matthew Brown has been deselected as ward councillor candidate for Croft Baker.
"He has been instrumental in supporting us in setting up our charity and helping us find a site within the Croft Baker Ward that is suitable for us.
"His drive to ensure the local community is forever developing is matched by no other and I feel that the decision to deselect him could have a catastrophic effect on our community.
"The decision has upset a lot of people in our community, and my advice is for the party to reconsider their actions for the benefit for the people of the ward and the wider community."
Croft Baker ward councillor, Matthew Brown,
Councillor Matthew Brown said: "Unfortunately, I am unable to discuss private Labour Party business publically. This includes the selection process of Council Candidates for the forthcoming elections in May 2018.
"I would like to reassure the residents of Croft Baker that I will continue to do my best for them and ensure that any decision I make has the residents, businesses and community groups at the heart of my decision making process while I remain their Ward Councillor."
A Labour party spokesperson said: "We don't comment on our internal party processes."
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