New allegations over leadership election
NEW allegations have been made over the conduct of Hyndburn’s Labour leadership election.
Senior Tory Coun Peter Britcliffe cast doubt on challenger Coun Melissa Fisher’s account of her role in the process which saw Coun Miles
Parkinson re-elected as the boss of the council.
And Labour member Coun Tim O’Kane branded Coun
Parkinson’s statement to May’s full council meeting about the issue as ‘disgusting’.
The claims were made when Hyndburn’s full council met on Thursday at Accrington Town
Hall.
It followed claims by Independent Coun
Patrick McGinley at May’s full council that he had been approached by former MP Graham Jones to join the party so he could back Coun Fisher’s challenge with the promise of a committee chairmanship if he did so.
His remarks followed Coun Parkinson making a statement that the allegation, which he described as ‘of a serious nature’, had been brought to his attention.
Mayor Coun Kath Pratt ruled out comments on the minutes of that meeting and June’s Cabinet meeting when Coun Parkinson said the issue had been referred to the police.
Coun Britcliffe said he would avoid any reference to those meetings and allegations of ‘financial inducements’, but speak on the issue of standards in public life.
He told the meeting: “I wish to comment on the statement made by the council leader which I can only describe as one that rocked the ballroom.
“Following the statement Coun Melissa
Fisher stood up and said she knew nothing about these allegations, even going as far as swearing on her children’s lives that she knew nothing.
“I have now heard that there have been other statements and that even one of our Conservative members was approached and offered a position, provided he would vote for Coun Fisher in the Labour leadership election.
“If this is correct, I wonder what the consequences will be - especially when I have heard it was Coun Fisher herself who contacted the Conservative councillor.
“I would urge the leader to convene a Standards Committee to look into this issue as if whatever I have heard is correct then Coun Fisher will not have acted with either honesty or integrity.
“I would urge the leader that if any member is found wanting in this issue, then the member should actually consider their position on the council.”
Coun Parkinson said he had acted in the interests of ‘transparency and openness’.
The police found ‘no criminality’ when they investigated the matter.
Coun Fisher, who did not attend Thursday’s meeting on legal advice, and Mr Jones declined to comment.