A top councillor broke her authority’s code of conduct by tweeting a snap of an opponents’ election leaflet on a toilet roll holder. But Coun Janet Emsley, deputy leader of Rochdale council, will not face a formal investigation into the matter after bosses decided it would be ‘wholly disproportionate to the allegations’.
Acting assistant director Sue Hedges ruled it was ‘not serious enough to merit any action’ and there was ‘no overriding public benefit in carrying out an investigation’, in a letter to complainant Ian Jackson. Mr Jackson - who is chair of Littleborough Civic Trust but complained in a personal capacity - says he has gone to the ombudsman over the decision, claiming it suggests elected members can act with ‘impunity’.
It comes after Coun Emsley shared the snap on social media following former Labour councillor John Hartley’s announcement he would be standing for the Conservatives in May’s local elections. He will be the Tory candidate for the Littleborough Lakeside ward he represented as a Labour councillor between 2012 and 2022.
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Mr Hartley’s decision infuriated Labour and Coun Emsley tweeted the toilet roll snap shortly afterwards, clearly implying an alternative use for the election flyer. It remains visible on her Twitter feed, which has more than 2,800 followers.
Mr Hartley made no formal complaint himself, instead branding it a ‘childish stunt’ and calling for parties to run ‘good clean campaigns sticking to local issues’ ahead of the elections. Coun Emsley, whose current term as councillor has three more years to run, says she is glad a decision has now been made.
“I am sorry Mr Jackson felt he needed to make a formal complaint,” she told the M.E.N. “I would point out that Mr Hartley is not my rival, I am not standing in the election. He was a ward colleague for some time and I feel very let down by his actions.
“I have not had any contact with him since an initial phone call to express my disappointment over his decision. Other people seem to be getting involved. I feel there are more important things that public money and time can be spent on.”
Mr Hartley has been praised by Coun John Taylor, leader of Rochdale council’s Conservative group, for his ‘resilience and strength of character in the way he has handled the situation’.
Mr Jackson told the LDRS he had already lodged a complaint with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, over the council’s handling of the issue.
“In my own personal opinion, Coun Emsley has become unfit to hold a position in public office and should stand down forthwith," he said.
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