"Labour no longer represent the powerless and the poor" - says Lewisham Labour candidate

10.12.12am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Sep 2009

Even Labour's own candidate can see the Labour shipwreck

A Labour candidate in Telegraph Hill ward in Lewisham has accused his own party of failing the poor and of leading the party "to election defeat".

Paul Bell, who was recently selected to fight Telegraph Hill ward for Labour at the next local elections, made the outspoken claims on his blog in a series of posts.

He said, "What is also apparent is that the Labour Party no longer represents the voice of the weak, the powerless and the poor in the minds of voters…. I am very perplexed by the people we have leading the Labour Party at the moment. They seem to be sailing us into iceberg, to election defeat, to the end of a Labour government."

Cllr Chris Maines, Leader of the Lib Dem group, said, "Mr Bell should be commended for his frank and honest words, but I am slightly surprised that Lewisham Labour are unable to find candidates who actually support their own party. Mr Bell is right about the iceberg though - Steve Bullock is sailing Lewisham Labour Party with all the skill and arrogance of the captain of the Titanic."