Youth triumphs over experience
Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date published: 17 April 2009
Labour ditches 54-year-old triple winner for a 21-year-old
A serving Failsworth Labour councillor has been ousted by her party in favour of a younger candidate for next year’s local elections.
Aileen Bell (54) has won her seat in Failsworth West three times, in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
She was due to defend the seat again next May, but at a selection meeting over the weekend she was turned down in favour of Nina Eden, a 21-year-old party member.
Councillor Bell, who works for the local office of Michael Meacher MP, is a school governor and has been a Planning Committee member.
She takes a close interest in community policing, and also establishing links between older and younger generations in Failsworth.
She said: “Naturally I am extremely disappointed that after winning three elections for the Labour Party since 2003 in Failsworth West that I have now been deselected and won’t be able contest my seat.
“However, I will be continuing my work for the people of Failsworth who elected me, up until May next year, and beyond.
“You don’t have to have the title councillor to serve your community.
“I have been a loyal member of the Labour Party for 23 years and will remain so.
“I will be campaigning for the party at the next general election and in future local elections in Oldham, as I have always done.
“As for Nina, she is very young and I therefore hope she will encourage the younger members of the community to take an interest in politics and vote.”
Nina Eden, a member of the New Life Church in Failsworth, was a co-optee on the former Failsworth Community Council in 2007, and was recently co-opted on to the Failsworth Area Committee.
She has also represented Oldham Groundwork at a Houses of Parliament reception to showcase Groundwork volunteers after organising a clean-up campaign in Failsworth.
