Paul Daisley

Paul Andrew Daisley (20 July 1957 – 18 June 2003) was a British politician from the Labour Party who is most notable for his period as Leader of Brent Borough Council. After working as an accounting officer and for his own management consultancy, he succeeded in significantly improving the reputation of the council and pioneering anti-crime initiatives. His success led to his election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent East, but he was seriously ill with cancer by the time the opportunity came. Despite apparently successful treatment, he was unable to play a significant role in Parliament before a new and terminal cancer was discovered.

Early life Born in Acton, west London, Daisley was the only son of Peter and Joan Daisley. He spent many days at his grandparents' home in Hallaton in Leicestershire. He went to Littlemore School in Littlemore, south Oxford then Abingdon College in Abingdon, where he met his future wife. He worked as an Accounting Officer for Texaco from 1976 to 1984. and the two moved to Sudbury Avenue in the London Borough of Brent. Highly critical of the Labour administration that won the election, Daisley worked together with likeminded colleagues to rebuild the party. Although Labour lost control in the 1990 local elections, Daisley was elected as a councillor for Harlesden ward. Although the Conservatives did not win an overall majority, their administration continued. Daisley became Leader of the Council in April 1996, when the death of a Conservative councillor placed the Conservatives in a minority; he negotiated a deal with the Liberal Democrat group which allowed Labour to gain control with the casting vote of the Mayor. and set up street crime patrols modelled on those in New York which were briefed by Metropolitan Police officers and based at local police stations. He received praise for tackling crime from the Commissioner, Sir John Stevens. When the council granted planning permission for the redevelopment, it insisted on a legal agreement requiring substantial payments for improvements; Daisley became unpopular with the Football Association for taking this stance. Daisley's selection, as a white candidate for a very ethnically mixed constituency, was denounced by the vice-chairman of the Black Socialist Society. He did not attend Parliament to take the oath of allegiance until 14 September, during an emergency debate on the recent September 11 attacks, the last member to take the oath in 2001, and made his maiden speech on 1 February 2002 (the last of the 2001 intake to do so). This would be his only spoken contribution to the House of Commons. Having regained his mobility after some months using a wheelchair, Daisley paid tribute to the National Health Service staff who had helped him, before speaking about the role of local authorities in helping disadvantaged areas.

Daisley's weight had fallen to seven and a half stone at the time of his treatment, and it was slowly recovering through 2002. However, in November a new cancer was discovered, He died from colorectal cancer in London on 18 June 2003, aged 45. It holds a regular fundraising celebrity cricket match. The main hall in Brent Town Hall was named the 'Paul Daisley Hall' in his honour.