Famous face loses out

11 May 2006

ONE of the casualties of Lib Dem success in Brent East was former Councillor Reg Freeson, who represented Queen's Park ward from 2002.

Mr Freeson, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year, had represented the people of Brent since 1952, when he became the first Labour councillor in Mapesbury ward.

As MP for Willesden East and then Brent East, he became Housing Minister in the 1970s.

He is considering his political future after Thursday's poll, but for his analysis of the current problems besetting the Labour party and a review of more than a half century of political life focussed on anti-facism, community action and the improvement of social housing, see next week's Times.