Trade union leader Pat Harrington has accused extremists of seeking to misuse Standards Board complaints. His comments followed a hearing of the Barking and Dagenham council's standards committee on the 26th of March. Mr Harrington, the General Secretary of the Solidarity Trade Union, was there to represent (in a personal capacity) Cllr. Bob Bailey of the British National Party (BNP).
Cllr. Bailey stood accused of 'racism' and other offences because of comments he is alleged to have made during a debate on a planning application from the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The Church congregation is overwhelmingly Nigerian. Cllr Bailey denies all allegations.
Mr Harrington said: "The complaint was organised by Cllr. Val Rush. Cllr. Rush is linked to the extremist organisation, Searchlight. She had a previous complaint against Cllr. Richard Barnbrook, another BNP councillor, thrown out on appeal. I
represented Cllr. Barnbrook at that hearing. It appears to me that Cllr. Rush is making these complaints against British National Party members, at least partly, to score partisan political points. I am concerned about the amount of public money being spent to investigate and hear these complaints."
Mr Harrington also hit out at the way that the investigation had been conducted: "Some twenty councillors were present at the Planning meeting yet the investigator interviewed only five. The five interviewed were Cllr. Bailey himself and four others associated with making the complaint. That is not a fair cross-section.
Additionally, leading and loaded questions were asked in interviews and positive reinforcement given to answers contradicting Cllr. Bailey. It's clear to me that the investigation set out to 'prove' Cllr. Bailey guilty - not to find the Truth.
I am determined to expose unfair procedures."
At the hearing Mr Harrington was continually interrupted by the Chair as he sought to question witnesses and test their statements. The Chair, Fiona Fairweather, Dean of Law at East London University, also seemed determined that the case would be heard in one day despite the number of witnesses and nearly five hundred pages of written evidence and earlier objections from Mr Harrington. She imposed unreasonable five minute breaks and sought to pressurise Mr Harrington to 'move along'.
Questions are now being raised as to how independent and fair Fiona Fairweather is in relation to this matter.
Despite his concerns Mr Harrington persevered with his questioning and effectively challenged the evidence against Cllr. Bailey.
The hearing was adjourned part-heard to another date mutually convenient to all parties where further witnesses will be heard.
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