McNicol is though happy to suspend Tony Greenstein, Jackie Walker and Marc Wadsworth for ‘anti-Semitism’
real scandal. McNicol has refused to
suspend pending investigation the Leader of Rochdale Council, Richard Farnell,
who is accused at an Independent Inquiry into Child
Sexual Abuse (IICSA) of lying about what he knew of child abuse when he was
Leader. See Excl:
Rochdale sec resigns over non-suspension of accused council leader. Full
resignation letter
allegations of ‘anti-Semitism’ against two Jewish and two Black anti-racist
activists merit instant suspension.
Child abuse allegations are dismissed.
 |
| Richard Farnell |
In 2009 seven Labour Party members, two
of whom are now dead, were suspended from the Party for ‘bullying’ former MP
Simon Danzuk. What did this bullying
consist of? Alleging that he had beaten
up his girl friend and there was also an allegation of rape. Instead of investigating the allegations the Labour
Party suspended those making the allegations.
Last year the surviving 5 members
appealed to Iain McNicol to reopen their case but McNicol preferred to continue
the cover up that had begun under his predecessor. In 2016 Simon Danzuk was arrested in Spain
and held for 2 days for beating up his ex-wife.
However because she refused to sign a statement the Spanish Police had
to release Danzuk. Labour Party members were kicked
out for ‘bullying’ Simon Danczuk – now they want their case reopened after he
was arrested in Spain
Excl:
Rochdale sec resigns over non-suspension of accused council leader. Full
resignation letter
The SKWAWKBOX has covered the allegations against Rochdale Council leader Richard Farnell – which he
has denied – that he knew about abuse of children at Knowl View in Rochdale and
did not report it.
Mr Farnell has also been accused by former senior councillor Peter Johnson, in formal
testimony to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) of ‘not telling the truth’ to the inquiry
about what he knew: You can read the
cross-examination here.
 |
| Last night, Rochdale Momentum sent out the following tweet: |
Those allegations have been echoed by other witnesses to the inquiry, prompting
an ITV journalist to ask the council leader:
Now, amid allegations that supporters
of Cllr Farnell attempted to prevent a vote on a motion by the CLP (constituency
Labour party) calling for his suspension, the Secretary of the CLP has resigned
after sending the following letter to CLP members, which the SKWAWKBOX brings
you exclusively:
that I have resigned as Secretary of Rochdale CLP.
part of a local leadership that has defended Simon Danczuk, voted for 34%
councillor allowances in a time of austerity and now, most importantly, defend
the current Council Leader of Rochdale Council around the issue of CSA. On many occasions, the membership has tried to voice their
concerns to reflect these issues and have been met with censorship and
manoeuvering, rather than political debate.
shown local victims of CSA that the local Party supports them, despite the
various members’ resolutions across the borough calling the National Party to
act. This lack
of support is compounded by the National Party in not suspending the Leader,
given the evidence, while an investigation takes place as happens in the case
of any professional. This lack
of action from the Party over the Inquiry is putting unnecessary public and
personal pressure on myself and other members who are facing the wrath of the
public after having seen and heard the evidence. This lack of action is sending out the wrong signals to the public
but especially to the victims, who are the most important people in the
Inquiry, who have stated their views publicly on a number of occasions that
they wish the Party to act. I do not
want to be a party to this inaction. These are the political reasons for my resignation.
Chair as she is not on email. This has
caused me considerable difficulties being unable to communicate with the Chair
over these past nine months. I have
been in the Labour Party recently for two years and would have appreciated
assistance from the Chair with such a huge task. As a teacher myself, as was the Chair, I know that you are
required to be fairly competent with IT and how emails are set up. In fact, it would be difficult to do the job without having an
email account. I have had
to call the Chair’s landline, mobile and texted which were often not answered
and often at crucial times. I think it
should be compulsory for the Chair to have an email address in future. I have also assisted with the Membership Officer role on many
occasions and I now find myself having taken on the job of Contact Creator
Coordinator for the CLP. These are
the logistical reasons for my resignation.
member of the Party and do all in my power to help get a Labour Government led
by Jeremy Corbyn into No. 10.
The fact that Cllr Farnell is not on
administrative suspension while these matters are investigated when other
Labour figures have been immediately and even hastily suspended – especially in
a case of such serious allegations – will reinforce the perception of many
members that Labour HQ’s disciplinary procedures are factionally applied.
The Labour Party needs to act promptly
to ensure that it not only acts correctly but is seen to do so – and a thorough
restructuring of the party’s bureaucracy, still dominated by the so-called
moderates, looks a matter of more pressing importance than ever.
Rochdale Council declined to comment,
saying that it was a matter for the Labour Party. Labour has been contacted for
comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
