WHAT ever happened to the complaint that Liverpool’s two most prominent councillors conspired to oust the former chief of the Culture Company?
It’s now nearly nine months since the Standards Board began its investigation into the role of Warren Bradley and Mike Storey in the departure of Jason Harborow.
The Standards Board aims to complete 90% of its investigations in six months. A spokesman confirmed to me at the weekend that this case was taking a lot longer. She wouldn’t discuss the case but said the length of investigations were affected by how many people needed to be interviewed.
It can’t be an easy task for the Standards Board. Messrs Bradley, Storey and Harborow are not the best of buddies.
In July, the Culture Company threatened legal proceedings against Jason Harborow’s consultancy for alleged unauthorised use of the ’08 logo.
Let’s hope it’s sorted soon as the episode is a reminder of the rocky run-up to the Capital of Culture year. How right Phil Redmond was when he said Scousers love a good row before having a great time.
As the tourists flock in and we look forward to the grand climax of Capital of Culture year, it’s a shame that this investigation lingers on.
It’s also important that the matter is resolved for the political stability of the council. Potentially Cllrs Bradley and Storey could be suspended for five years, and that would have consequences for a council where the Lib-Dems have a tiny majority.
Indeed now is the time for a fresh start. September 1 seems a more natural beginning to the year than January 1.
Most people have just had their longest holiday of the year. The schools are back after a six-week break and the political season gets under way with a vengeance.
The latter point is particularly significant this year because of the Prime Minister’s perilous position.
Just as MPs left Westminster, Labour crashed to defeat in Glasgow East and Gordon Brown could have been on his way.
But with MPs and Ministers away and the nation enjoying our success in the Olympics, the pressure has eased on the PM… for the moment.
Because, if the Labour politicians I’ve been talking to are anything to go by, Gordon Brown’s days in Number 10 remain numbered.
Most expect him to survive until the Manchester conference later this month. Some think he will then face a delegation from the Cabinet when Parliament returns. Others believe he will hope to hang on by avoiding another defeat at the hands of the Scot Nats at the Glenrothes by election.
So at the start of the unofficial new year, there are two key questions; will Gordon survive and is the Conservative tide unstoppable?
The Lib-Dems face a challenging autumn. Nick Clegg is yet to make a real impact nationally and in Liverpool the party awaits the Standards Board decision.
