By-election for Calderdale ward as Labour councillor resigns
Plus, Halifax drugs sting sees 27 people face charges
Hello and welcome to the weekend edition of The Calderdale Lead.
In today’s edition we’ve got news of another Labour resignation on Calderdale Council, this time with a popular councillor stepping away for personal reasons.
That means there’s going to be a by-election, although given the majority which Mike Barnes won in 2023, I’m not expecting a shock!
Plus, we’ve got details of a big police operation which has seen almost 30 people charged with drugs offences.
So, on with the news…
Labour councillor steps down with by-election set to be called
A Labour councillor for the Skircoat ward in Halifax has resigned, triggering a by-election.
Coun Mike Barnes, who has been a councillor since 2019, said the design to step away was nothing to do with national politics, nor was it a spur-of-the-moment decision.
In a lengthy post announcing his departure on social media, he said: “First, I suspect that what I am about to write will result in rumour and speculation. Let me be very clear, that is all it will be. Pure rumour and speculation by people who don’t know the truth nor have, likely, made any effort to find out the truth. I won’t be saying any more than what follows.
“Second, my decision is nothing to do with the national Labour Party. I have been a member/supporter for well over 50 years (and will remain a Party member) and I have never agreed with all of the individual policies or decisions but still feel that the Labour Party is the best option for our country. I will continue to campaign for and be part of the party.
“This is not a spur of the moment decision but has been developing over the last year. The circumstances I refer to (and, as far as I can see, these are not likely to change in either the short or medium term) mean that I am unable to fulfil my role as councillor to those standards nor at a level that I believe the residents of Skircoat (and of Calderdale) deserve.”
He added that he appreciated the timing - just 12 months before the whole council is up for election to introduce a new election cycle - was not ideal but said that he could not justify taking his councillor’s allowance for another year.
Coun Barnes, who served as an election agent for Halifax MP Kate Dearden at last summer’s General Election, first won the seat in 2019, taking it from the Tories with a majority of just under 500 votes.
He more than doubled that majority when he contested the seat again in 2023, securing 2,285 votes to Conservative candidate Peter Hunt’s 1,049.
As well as his work in his ward, Coun Barnes also sat on a number of boards including being an advocate for Calderdale on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority scrutiny committee, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and the Adults Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board.
The Calderdale Labour Party paid tribute to his service, saying his sense of humour was a ‘key theme’ of his time as a councillor.
A statement said: “Mike has always, first and foremost, been committed to his residents. A resident of Skircoat for many years himself, he makes sure to have the best interests of all residents of Skircoat at the forefront of his mind in everything he does. If anything, his decision remains an extension of that.
“One of his huge successes, alongside local residents, has been his part in bringing The Old Library in Skircoat into community use.
“Mike has always been incredibly principled, firmly standing up for his beliefs and challenging injustice as he sees it. For many years, he has not taken the Councillor allowance increase and encouraged others to do the same.
“His work in scrutiny, out on the doors campaigning and internally within the Labour Party has always been led by his strong sense of morality.”
No date for the by-election has yet been announced.
Police charge 27 in Halifax drugs line operation
West Yorkshire Police have charged 27 people with a variety of drugs-related offences as part of an ongoing operation to smash drugs lines operating in Halifax town centre.
Over three weeks in November 2024, 20 warrants were executed across Calderdale as part of the 12-month proactive investigation into drug supply within the town.
In total, 36 people were arrested as part of the investigation and 27 have now been charged with a total of more than 110 offences of class A drugs supply.
During the operation officers recovered more than £100,000 in cash and £25,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis.
A number of weapons were also seized, including batons, knuckle dusters and knives.
This recent policing activity is part of the 'clear' phase of the Clear, Hold, Build initiative developed by the Home Office which uses a problem solving and evidence-based approach to tackle crime.
Detective Inspector Clare Turner of West Yorkshire Police who led the operation said: “This has been a significant proactive operation tackling drugs and organised crime in Halifax. Effective prevention through dismantling criminality alongside enforcement is key to the success of the Clear, Hold, Build strategy.
“Working with our partners throughout this operation we have managed to dismantle numerous drugs lines within Calderdale.
“We know the devastation that drugs can have on the community, and I hope this provides reassurance that we are taking this issue seriously with the number of people arrested and charged.”
Those charged as part of the operation are:
Uzain Mohammed, aged 26, of Clay Pitts Lane, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Amaan Ifraz, aged 22, of Athol Gardens, Halifax, charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Supply Class A.
Aliyah Merban, aged 20, of Athol Gardens, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Michael Kilner, aged 28 - No Fixed Abode, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Scott Shaw, aged 47, of Houghton Towers, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Rebecca Henderson, aged 45, of Unity Terrace, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Imitiaz Maminayat, aged 42, of Burley Lodge Road, Hyde Park Leeds, charged with three counts of supply Class C.
Josh Jowett, aged 33, of Grove Park, Halifax, charged with eight counts of supply Class A, two counts of PWITS Class A, one count of offer to supply Class A and one count of offer to supply Class B.
Issac Thomas, aged 21, of Coleridge Street, Halifax, charged with supply of a Class A.
Isa Khan, aged 19, of Lister Lane, Halifax, charged with five counts of Supply Class A.
Jamal Hussain, aged 25, of Devon Street, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Mohammed Dauod, aged 19, of Franklin Street, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Zubair Haroon, age 20, of King Cross Road, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Saif Ali, aged 20, of Milton Place, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Mark Quill, aged 55, of Croft Rise, Halifax, charged with two counts of concerned in the supply of Class A and two counts of supply Class A.
Mohammed Hassan Din, aged 31, of Brantwood Drive, Bradford, charged with two counts of concerned in the supply of Class A.
James Clarke, aged 38 - No Fixed Abode, charged with three counts of supply Class A.
Mohammed Bilal Ali, aged 51, of Ravensdean Lodge, Huddersfield, charged with 14 counts of supply Class A.
Mark Smith, aged 53, of Wood View Terrace, Halifax, charged with two counts being concerned in the supply of Class A and seven counts of supply Class A.
Lee Dunn, aged 39, of Union Street South, Halifax, charged with one count of supply Class A.
Dominic Ndlovu, aged 28, of Union Street South, Halifax, charged with two counts of supply Class A and one count of supply Class B.
Tauseef Younis, aged 36, of Harvest Court, Halifax, charged with ten counts of supply Class A.
Shanawaz Ali, aged 24, of Gibraltar Road, Halifax, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A, two counts of concerned in the supply of Class A, two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A and 14 counts of supply Class A.
Claire Fallows, aged 41 of Sandholme Crescent, Halifax, charged with two counts of supply Class A.
Amir Ali Rashid, aged 30, of Mount Pleasant Avenue, Halifax, charged with one count of supply Class A and one count in relation to proceed of crime act offences.
Shezad Haroon, aged 26, of Kismet Close, Halifax, charged with four counts of supply Class A.
The charges also include a 17-year-old boy who can’t be identified for legal reasons.
Those charged are due to appear at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday March 18 and Monday March 24.
That’s it for this edition - we’ll of course have news of when the by-election is going to be as soon as it’s announced.
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Enjoy what is left of the weekend and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Wednesday!
Andrew