In what is proving to be bonanza time for lawyers, the saga of the questioned land deals involving Sandwell council is running on and on.
Without wishing to intrude upon the Sandwell Labour party’s present grief and appreciating that this is meant to be an invitation only private fight among factions of that party, we make the point that the people of Sandwell are entitled to know if any of their councillors are crooks or on the fiddle, that councillors who have been accused of wrongdoing but against whom nothing has been proved are entitled to public exoneration and because their money has been spent upon an investigation, Sandwell council tax-payers have a right to see that the investigation was properly conducted and its results.
This heroic tale, which has been running for about 18 months began with questions raised over the propriety of sales of surplus Sandwell owned properties, including closed public lavatories (there’s never anything classy about Sandwell socialist scandals).
Two Labour councillors, Ian Jones and Mahboob Hussain, took “voluntary” suspension from the Labour party but remained councillors while their conduct in the sales were investigated. Two investigations were conducted separately, but in tandem, by the police and by lawyers instructed by Sandwell’s Labour council.
The police investigation was the first to conclude that there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against anyone. It might have been thought that the matter would end there. After all the principle “innocent until proved guilty” is a sound one and only the narrow mindedly salacious believe “there’s no smoke”. Things do not play that way in Mr. Corbyn’s Labour party where fairness is an alluring illusion peddled to the public, but not shown to those party members who do not have Jeremy’s stalinist stripe and extreme leftist lunacy.
Councillor Ian Jones as the sitting Labour councillor in Tipton Green ward was due for re-election in May. Before he could contest that election as the Labour candidate he had to obtain a high court order to gain readmission to the party. This was vigorously opposed by Corbyn’s central Labour party, despite the findings of the police investigation and Councillor Jones having widespread support in the local Labour party. Fortunately, the Labour party will bear the costs of this legal extravaganza. Not so with Sandwell council’s lawyer conducted land deals investigation.
Wragge & Co. a leading firm of solicitors were instructed to investigate the land deals and allied matters. They commissioned a partner with expertise in local government administration to author a report. And the cost was £250,000 …….payable by Sandwell council tax payers.
Once the council had this report, which we understand took the matter no further forward and agreed with the findings of the police investigation, but contained the odd tit bit of gossip, it then puzzled what to do with it. There were those who claimed to believe that the reason for the report was simply to advise on mechanisms and processes and that publication would serve no purpose. In the power vacuum created by the death of the council leader and with jockeying, to take over that role, shaping attitudes, there seemed only one solution; ask a lawyer.
So the Chief Executive found a Q.C. to advise whether the first lawyer’s report should be made public. Cost yet unknown but certainly to be met again by Sandwell folk.
It was obviously inappropriate for the council’s legal department to undertake the original report but it is worth noting that the very well paid staff there seem very ready to seek outside legal consultancy advice; passing the buck and increasing the bucks paid by the public.
But back to the story of the Wragge report; after due consideration, the second learned counsel advised the Chief Executive that the report should be published. Most certainly this was not a conclusion reached on the toss of a coin. The Chief Executive told the press and the press trumpeted the news that publication was imminent.
Then a person named in the report consulted their lawyer. The lawyer wrote a letter and pending resolution of a dispute as to the factual accuracy of bits of the report, it went into limbo. Then a new date and time for publication was announced i.e. 5pm on 19th May 2016.
Meanwhile, one leadership contender Cllr. Yvonne Davies asked that publication be delayed until after the leadership election. That conclave of worthies is due to meet this evening. Another leadership contender, acting leader Cllr. Eling refused her request.
So there was another court hearing yesterday and the court’s decision was to be delivered today [20th May].
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Mahboob Hussain consulted his lawyers. The London Corbyn mafia, rather than face another drubbing in the courts such as they sustained in the case of Cllr. Jones, lifted his suspension from the party.
But then suddenly re-imposed it on 17th May. A significant legal difference between his situation and Cllr. Jones’ was that while Cllr. Jones had the protection of a High Court order lifting his suspension, Cllr Hussain lacked this knock out defensive weapon. Consequently, having got the local elections out of the way, the Corbynistas were able to play cat and mouse with Cllr Hussain and so suspended him again.
There are those who believe the object was to prevent Mahboob voting and exercising influence in the Sandwell Labour Leader contest. Others see it as the start of a left wing purge of moderates in the Sandwell Labour party. A few think it may herald the discovery of something nasty in the woodshed.
It’s not a nice time in the nasty party.
Following release of the report an update will follow.