Time to Stop the Appeals

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 30th May 2002

Commenting on last nights meeting of Full Council Michael Headley, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, commented:

"I think the Auditor is wrong in refusing to talk about these matters in public. It is an issue that needs to be more open so that people can know what is going on. However, to take their ball home and refuse to hear the auditor at all, as the Tories would have done, is just childish. The auditor had something to say and councillors had a responsibility to listen."

Commenting further on the libel action Christine McHugh said:

"It is now time to draw a line under this episode. Taxpayers do not want the Council to take any risks with their money in supporting the officers in appealing. The council should listen to this and not give any agreement to support the appeals. As Liberal Democrats we also want to make it clear that libellous and untrue comments should not form part of the political process and I hope all political parties will aim for high standards of honesty."