Warren Bradley accused of three lies over Mathew Street

Dec 13 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL council leader Warren Bradley last night defended himself against opposition claims he had “lied three times” in the fall-out from the Mathew Street fiasco.

It came as Labour leader Joe Anderson demanded to know whether Cllr Bradley had used a secret meeting with former events manager Lee Forde to solicit information about Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow.

Cllr Anderson went on to accuse Cllr Bradley of being a “schoolboy plotter” during last night’s special full council meeting into whether there should be a fresh inquiry over the cancellation of the summer’s Mathew Street Festival.

But the council leader said: “I never wanted to be someone. I have always wanted to help people.

“I never wanted this to be a witch hunt or find scapegoats. I wanted to make sure that this fiasco never happened again.”

Labour lost the crucial vote on having an independent inquiry.

Cllr Anderson started the debate with a series of questions about the November 18 meeting with Mr Forde, which took place at Cllr Bradley’s home in Wavertree. Regeneration leader Cllr Mike Storey was also present.

Cllr Bradley originally told the Daily Post the meeting had not taken place.

“Was that a lie, because it was only after being told that the three emails from you to Lee Forde on November 17 had been made public did you then admit to the meeting?” said Cllr Anderson.

He then quoted a report in the Daily Post (December 3), in which we quoted Cllr Bradley as saying “Lee texted me and said he would like a chat on Friday. I emailed him back.”

Cllr Anderson said he had Mr Forde’s phone bill as evidence which showed Mr Forde had not sent a text to Cllr Bradley on the day in question.

He then accused Cllr Bradley of a third lie.

He said Cllr Bradley had told the Daily Post he had informed Mr Hilton and senior Culture Company staff in the “first couple of days after the meeting”.

But in a letter, obtained by the Daily Post, from Mr Hilton to Cllr Anderson, the chief executive said he was unaware of the meeting.

Mr Hilton said he was also unaware of any of the information about the meeting that Mr Forde had set out in a dossier.

“At first, Bradley denied the meeting. Then he blamed Mr Forde for the meeting. Then he sought to involve the chief executive in his cover-up conspiracy.

“Lie. After lie. After lie.

“A man who has proved through his actions and his words that he has no integrity, no honesty – and no future.”

Cllr Bradley said he was certain the main issue around Mathew Street had been around communication. Weekly meetings were now being held to make sure there was no repeat.

He said a private conversation had taken place with Mr Forde on June 15 at which Mr Forde had raised capacity issues in the Culture Company.

Cllr Bradley said he had raised this later that month at a Culture Company board meeting under confidential cover.

He said he had been in contact with Mr Forde about resurrecting the Mathew Street Festival, but council chief executive Colin Hilton had decided not to involve Mr Forde.

Cllr Bradley said Mr Forde had also raised issues about strategic management in the Culture Company.

“As the investigation gathered pace, I thought it inappropriate that we had contact until it was published.”

He said he had sent three copies of an email to Mr Forde on the Saturday because it had bounced, and Mr Forde had emailed a response within an hour.

He said the pair had exchanged emails and text messages and agreed to meet at his house.

In doing this, he had not misled the public but only wanted to listen and help, he said. He said reports in the press were unbalanced, and in a written answer named the Daily Post as the subject of the complaint.

“I have made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission and the editor. If a retraction is not forth- coming, I will take it further.”

At the end of his speech, he received a standing ovation from some of his party.

Leader of the Liberal party Steve Radford said: “Warren, I am sure you acted in good faith [in holding the meeting], but I think you were quite wrong.

“I think you have got an untenable position. I think you have just hung yourself, and I say that with great sadness.”

davidbartlett@dailypost.co.uk

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