“A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has been expelled from the party and is at the centre of a police investigation. Cllr Sera Kentman, who has represented Whitefoot ward in Lewisham since last May, was axed after breaching rules, which included failing to disclose her debts as a councillor.”
Hat tip: Indigo
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8 Comments
It was only when I read the “News-Shopper” link that it dawned on me who this lady is. She is someone I met 7 years ago in a non-party context.
Councillor Kentman has clearly got herself into financial difficulties, and her behaviour may have been feckless, but I would like to put on record that my own impression of her (seen close up) was wholly positive. Certainly, she rates much more highly as a member of the human race than any of the goons attacking her.
Also, the talk of “aliases” may be misleading. Women frequently switch from married to maiden name anad back.
These are the five aliases mentioned:
“The Individual Insolvency Register lists Sera Kentman and her alternative names, Julia Kibris, Hulya Kibris, Feliz Guner, and Hulya Guner.”
What combination of marriage and divorce would explain them?
To Angus, Yes she does come across as very positive and plausible, and she certainly fooled me. She contacted me when she worked for Islington, when she called herself Julia Guner. Then I knew her as Hulya, then she was elected as Sera kentman. I’ve always been satisfied with my birth name of Meral, so what do I know?As the only other Turkish Lib Dem counillor, besides myself,(1 Kurdish cllr in Haringey) it is a great shame that she has let down the party, but also people in Lewisham, particularly the large Turkish community, who were really pleased to have someone from their own community representing them.
I knew her as Julia or Hulya Guner (she used the two given names alternately). And I recall that she had been married to a German, though I have no idea what his surname was.
The Lewisham Lib Dem councillors had no choice but to expel Julia from their group. She had neglected to disclose facts about herself which could prove embarrassing to the Party. To put it bluntly, she dropped them in it.
But we should not forget that thus far Julia has not been convicted of any crime. Indeed, she strikes me as an individual who cannot cope with life, not a calculating villain.
Should the Party carry out CRB and credit checks on anyone wishing to become a councillor? I sincerely hope that never happens.
Count Nicolai Tolstoy was discharged from bankruptcy without having paid a farthing to his creditors (£1 million + owed), sent his son to Eton and stood for Parliament (UKIP).
Ah, but unlike Julia, Nicolai Tolstoy had some of the best legal and financial advice available.
Angus, as Sera Kentmnan’s ward colleague, I can tell you that the financial stuff is only the tip of an iceberg. As Meral says, she comes across as very plausible, went through an approval process and was initially seen as a real asset to the group. But aspects of her behaviour caused increasing worry/horror and once the financial information began to unfold, so did a whole load of other things, which I won’t go into. Despite feeling personally very let down by Sera, I actually feel very sorry for her as she’s clearly in a real mess, but refuses/is unable to recognise this. It’s a personal tragedy that has become a public humiliation.
Just ignore Angus J Huck – he seems like a bit of a nutter and a really bad judge of character.
But Donna H (whoever she might be) is happy enough to judge ME on the basis of two short postings and without knowing the first thing about me.
What makes Donna H such an expert in the identification of “nutters”?
It should be pointed out that this lady had been investigated by the Met Police, and found to have committed no crime. It was premature to discharge her from the party, partly because she still remained an independent counselor, until her lack of attendance caused a by-election.