COUNCIL leader Cllr Terry O'Neill believes the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) should 'above anyone' have realised it 'cannot influence Labour groups'.

Cllr O'Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) was among Labour group leaders across the country who signed a letter slamming the NEC after it called on the party's Haringey councillors to halt a housing project.

That matter arose after three left-wing members, including Momentum founder Jon Lansman, won places on the party's governing body.

Cllr O'Neill said he is 'hopeful' there will not be a repeat of the Haringey matter in the future.

He added: "I was one of the leaders that signed the document criticising the NEC for trying to interfere with the Labour group because Labour groups, in the very nature of Labour groups, are autonomous bodies and the NEC, above anyone, should have realised they cannot influence Labour groups.

"It is something that I think most leaders feel passionate about because we have our own whips, we have our own system and we have our own autonomous body.

"We are not dictated by the CLPs or NECs, or anyone or any structure in the Labour Party."

But Kenny Watson, chairman of Momentum Warrington, believes Cllr O'Neill 'should realise no council is completely autonomous'.

He said: "My understanding of the situation in Haringey is the local council arranged to hand over most of its property to a private company, the Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV).

"The HDV is planning to demolish an area of council housing in order to construct some high value private rented accommodation in a move that has been described as gentrification.

"This move brought substantial opposition including from residents, trade unions and Haringey councillors.

"Cllr O'Neill's comments may be prompted by a desire for independence but even he should realise that no Labour body, and indeed no council, is completely autonomous and there are, and should be, checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

"All councils, Labour or otherwise, should consider the interests of the people they were voted in to represent.

"Privatisation of housing provision or other publicly-owned services are deeply unpopular and prone to failure, as the recent issues with Carillion and rail franchises have demonstrated."

The Labour Party has also responded to concerns over the actions of its governing body.

A spokeswoman said: "21 councillors in Haringey wrote to the NEC requesting it to intervene.

"At the meeting, the NEC unanimously agreed to urge Haringey Council to pause the plans if mediation processes do not bring about a resolution."