Liberal Democrats ?Call-In? Lord Hanningfield Decision

lord-hanningfield

Breaking news from the County Council – Liberal Democrats at County Hall have ?called in? the decision by Essex County Council Tories not to pursue Lord Hanningfield in the Civil Courts. Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr. Mike Mackrory said:

?I called in this decision because I believe we owe it to the council taxpayers of Essex to scrutinise this decision. There is an overwhelming public interest here for justice to be seen to be done; the ?51,000 originally claimed back is a token amount out of the total ?288,000 claimed by him whilst Leader of the Council. Why should he get away with this when people who are in arrears with their council tax or people who have committed fraud against the council are relentlessly pursued through the courts? Why is there one rule for Lord Hanningfield and another for ordinary people??

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  • I suppose if it is a case of having to spend £100,000 to get £51,000 then there is financial sense behind the decision, but if that is the case that should have been explained at the time the decision was made. I’m glad the Lib Dems have taken this action, because on the face of it the Tory administration at County Hall are letting one of their own get away with it.

  • If he is pursued and the council win – why would’nt he pick up the “costs” too ?, why is there any doubt the council would win , given the proven case already – as you say looking after there own.

  • Perhaps someone could explain “called in”

    It is of course a moral and ethical question and this sort of abuse of power should be pursued to the end The facy it doent make financial sense is not applicable

  • There is no question that on moral grounds this decision should be challenged. But there is a dilemma over cost to the Tax Payer.
    I think what has offended so many people is Paul White’s, (I refuse to call him Lord H. He should be stripped if this title!)lack of remorse, & failure to accept any wrong doing!
    It’s a matter of principle & precedent!
    If he can’t pay then he should return to prison to complete his original sentance. After all, as the statement says, you can’t have different rules for politicians to those which apply to the rest of us!

  • Richard, yes it is a moral and ethical question, but do you want to see your Council Tax go up because ECC have spent double or even more the amount they get back in pursuit of this money? Unfortunately there are times when pragmatism has to take precedence.

    I do however completely agree that he should be stripped of his title. His lack of remorse and apparent complete lack of understanding that he could possibly have done anything wrong is staggering in it’s arrogance.

  • Christine

    I answer to your question Yes

    The cost ie worth it as it will make the next miscreant(of what ever political colour) realise they will not get away with it

  • Not sure of the maths here

    but we are £53,000 down, they spend £100,000 to recover that so we end up £47,000 down

    They do nothing, we are £53,000 down

    I suppose it depends on the strength of the case and the likelihood that paul White will be able to pay

    On the House of Lord issue, last news report I saw he was still signing in and claiming his daily allowence BAFFLING

  • RDC have targeted that site ( mass fines etc; ) so they can claim it (as non- payment ) in order to meet their objective of the Travellers Site as far West as physically possible. As above it has been going on years – why now ? , seems obvious.

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