Police consider MP probe
LABOUR’S LAVERY UNDER SCRUTINY OVER FINANCES
NORTHUMBRIA Police is considering launching an investigation into Labour Party chairman and Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery.
Mr Lavery has come under scrutiny over payments stemming from his time as general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers Northumberland Area.
A report by the trade union regulator found by 2013 the union only had “10 members” but confirmed Mr Lavery received financial benefits totalling more than £165,000.
The regulator took the decision not to appoint an inspector to investigate matters further, citing their historical nature and the fact no member of the union had registered a complaint.
But now Northumbria Police has confirmed it is weighing up whether or not to investigate Mr Lavery over past financial arrangements with the NUM.
A force spokesperson said: “Northumbria Police had previously received a complaint which was recorded and put on hold to allow an investigation by the Certification Office.
“Following the outcome of this investigation Northumbria will review the findings of the Certification Office’s report, which has now been received to establish if any further action is required by the force.”
The Certification Officer has also been urged to revisit his decision not to investigate the matters further by Greg Stone, a Newcastle City Councillor and deputy chairman of the North East Liberal Democrats.
Writing on behalf of the party’s North East branch in a letter dated October 20, Mr Stone said “we consider that this matter is of sufficient public interest to merit further investigation by your office”.
A spokesperson for Mr Lavery said: “These allegations have already been investigated by the appropriate bodies with the Union and Ian Lavery cleared of any wrongdoing.
“We are unaware of any police investigation.”
First elected in 2010, the 54-yearold former miner has risen through the ranks to become a key figure in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party.
But financial arrangements arising from his former life as a union chief have dogged him following a Sunday Times investigation in 2016.
An inquiry was launched by the Certification Officer, Gerard Walker, a government official tasked with overseeing the statutory functions and responsibilities of trade unions, which reported back earlier this month.
The report found Mr Lavery was loaned £72,500 from the Northumberland Provident and Benevolent fund to purchase a house in 1994 and this loan was forgiven 13 years later.
He also received £89,887 in “termination payments” but the Certification Officer concluded “no documentary evidence of a decision to make the post of General Secretary redundant”.
Mr Lavery apologised to the House of Commons in March for failing to declare the union “held a 15% share in his property until May 30, 2013”, according to a report from the Parliamentary Commissioner of Standards.
The regulator’s report also showed Mr Lavery had been paying into an endowment fund to pay back the capital cost of the house.
Despite badly under-performing, the report found “the endowment policy was cashed in for approximately £18,000 which went to the policy holders, Mr and Mrs Lavery”.