SEFTON Council last night took the unusual step of detailing allegations facing a leading councillor which have been referred to the Standards Board for England.

Debi Jones, who represents Manor ward, was reported to the board last month over a meeting with deputy chief executive Alan Moore.

Last night, the council said the investigation included looking at whether the TV presenter had “pressed” for a company she worked for to be considered for contracts.

Cllr Jones started work for Liverpool PR firm Ampersand on a freelance basis just a few days before the meeting in September.

She strenuously denies any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion the company has done anything wrong.

Cllr Jones has previously said she was enquiring about the tendering process and that no work “was asked for or offered”.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said it had been “unwise” of Cllr Jones to comment about the matter in the press.

He said: “The articles have implied that the motivation for the referral could be political and/or due to other issues within the council. This is categorically not the case.”

He said it was essential the matter was independently investigated because the allegations, if true, would seriously undermine confidence in the council.

Last night, Cllr Jones was furious at the intervention.

She said: “I am surprised and disappointed that the council have issued this statement.

“I will not be gagged as a councillor by unnamed members of the chief executive’s department.

“I would like to point out that my earlier statements had been cleared by an officer of the Standards Board.

“It is unprecedented for a chief executive of a council to allow a press release to be issued which could damage the reputation of an elected councillor.

“What on earth is going on in that department?”

No-one was available for comment from Ampersand last night.

But last week, managing director Emma Blackmore said: “Debi Jones is not an employee of Ampersand, but is highly regarded as an outstanding member of the community, full of integrity.

“We are aware that all of her actions were cleared first by Sefton MBC’s own legal executive department.”

davidbartlett