Unanswered questions over councillor’s Labour Party suspension

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Mystery surrounds the suspension of a councillor from the Labour Party as residents tried to get answers at a council meeting.

Lewisham councillor Hau-Yu Tam has been under investigation by the party’s governance unit since last year.

Cllr Tam, who represents Evelyn ward in Deptford, has since been suspended by the local Labour group and currently sits as an independent on the council.

Her suspension came to light following a question submitted to Lewisham council about Cllr Tam’s listing as ‘independent’ on the council’s website ahead of a town hall meeting last Wednesday.

In response, deputy mayor Brenda Dacres wrote: “Lewisham Labour group were informed by the Labour Party last year that Cllr Tam was being investigated by the Labour Party’s governance and legal unit, and that during this investigation Cllr Tam’s membership of the Labour Party has been administratively suspended.”

Both Cllr Tam and the Labour Party have been approached for an explanation but have not responded.

Cllr Tam was first elected to Lewisham council for Evelyn ward in May 2022, along with Labour colleagues Will Cooper and Rudi Schmidt.

Following her election in 2022, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Drunk with happiness & drinks to be elected councillor in Evelyn, Lewisham, with my wonderful comrades @WillPCooper & Rudi Schmidt! #LewishamsCutest Thankyou all activists, family & friends who made this happen. I love & appreciate you all Ready for the next 4 years #WithEvelyn ❤”

Pictured top: Hau-Yu Tam (Picture: Lewisham council)