BORIS TAKES OVER ‘CORRUPT’ COUNCIL
Commissioners to run troubled city of Liverpool
THE Government is set to take control of the day-to-day running of Liverpool following the mayor’s arrest as part of a bribery probe.
Commissioners could be appointed to run the city by Prime Minister Boris Johnson after local government inspectors reportedly delivered a “damning indictment” of the council.
They were brought in to investigate financial irregularities in the awarding of building contracts.
Their findings will published this week.
Control
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Sources said that it is “likely” the Government will send in commissioners to seize control from the local authority.
Joe Anderson, 63, remains on police bail following his arrest last December on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.
He has insisted the allegations are baseless and plans to sue Merseyside Police for wrongful arrest.
“I have never taken a bribe in my life,” he said.
Deputy mayor Wendy Simon has taken over control on an interim basis while the investigation continues.
Sending commissioners to run councils has only happened three times in 25 years, when they were deployed to take over Tower Hamlets, Rotherham and
Northampton. Using such powers to run a city the size of Liverpool will be unprecedented.
Councillors will still be elected to the authority in May’s local elections, but they could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The Secretary of State (Robert Jenrick) has received the independent Best Value inspection team’s report.
“This is being considered carefully and next steps will be set out shortly.”