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Magazine article fuels council feud



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Published Date:
07 September 2008
Political editor
Demands have been made for 89,000 council magazines sent to residents to be withdrawn amid a political row.
Portsmouth Tories say the free Flagship magazine has been used for Lib Dem propaganda because of an article defending Cllr Mike Hancock against allegations of corruption.

They say they were not consulted on the story and want a new magazine produced with a retraction.

Tory leader Steve Wemyss said: 'I am concerned that taxpayers' money has been used for party politics in the guise of council information.

'The Lib Dems should foot the bill for the withdrawal of the magazine and for a new one to be printed.'

As reported in The News, 5,000 leaflets were sent to homes across Portsmouth in July accusing Cllr Hancock of hoodwinking developers into paying top price for a row of shops in Palmerston Road – despite knowing John Lewis was planning to move to the new Northern Quarter development.

The row is at the centre of an upcoming court battle, and the allegation has been flatly rejected by Cllr Hancock.

The autumn edition of Flagship, which is currently being delivered, states: 'The council would like to assure the people of Portsmouth that the council has behaved correctly at all times and that the allegation about Cllr Hancock is totally untrue.'

The council says it has no intention to withdraw the magazine even though the Conservatives have as many seats as the Lib Dems and were not consulted.

Tory councillor Linda Symes said: 'I am very disappointed. Why should any council-issued magazine make representations on behalf of any councillor?

'I thought the council magazine was meant to give information to the public – it shouldn't be there to defend a councillor.

'It is for the courts to decide whether the allegations are true or not.'

District Auditor Stephen Taylor, who keeps an eye on council spending, was asked to investigate the article, but he said he saw no reason to challenge it.

Cllr Mike Hancock said: 'I am doing a job on behalf of the council and the council has a legitimate right to rebut allegations that were put out in leaflets that were wrong.

'This is not political – I am a member of the executive and I say any member of the executive would have the right to defend themselves in this way.'

The full article contains 398 words and appears in The News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 September 2008 6:49 PM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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Scourge,

Portsmouth 06/09/2008 15:45:56
This reminds me of a former Councillor who used council funds to defend himself against criminal allegations of kerb crawling some years ago. He claimed he was a Member of the Executive as well.
At last we have some action from the Conservative opposition. Why is Councillor Hancock 'doing a job on behalf of the council' when he is the MP for Portsmouth South. As often stated on these pages it is a blatant conflict of interest. Conclusions that can be drawn from this are that:
1. This is another example of 'Snouts in the Trough' that we have become used to in this Country of declining morality in the public service.
2. There is so much to hide within the planning portfolio that he dare not stand down.
3. His Ego is so big and distorted that he believes that he has become indispensible to the City.
None of these reasons have any validity or credibility.
If Councillor Hancock had any honour whatsoever, he would resign while these accusations of planning corruption circulate, particularly as there is a Court case pending.
The printing of the defence to these allegations in the Flagship magazine is an abuse of power and has the opposite effect to that intended - there is no smoke without fire.
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Inamess2,

06/09/2008 16:16:20
Michael Hancocks position as a City Councillor and MP for Portsmouth South from the moment the article in Flagship was published has become totally untenable. Would you discuss your problems with a person, who's every decision is flawed or gives cause to question its honesty. David Williams and Michael Lawthers involvement in the release of this article should also be questioned by the opposition. These people, are bringing the whole of Portsmouth City Council into disrepute.
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Rottenborough,

Portsmouth 06/09/2008 16:49:57
My copy of Flagship has yet to arrive. It will be interesting to read how Cllr.Mike Hancock CBE MP sets out his story. Well done Cllr.Wemyss for bringing this one to our attention. It is high time we learned the truth about the Palmerston Road affair, the deals and bribes offered over the Northern Quarter and what exactly is going on at Tipner. Well done Mark Austin for carrying on your lone battle to expose these cans of worms.
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,

06/09/2008 17:03:28
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
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digicom,

Portsmouth 06/09/2008 17:45:33
Another example of the depths to which politics and officialdom have sunk to in this City. The above comments are correct. This article is an abuse of power. It reflects badly on the Liberal Democrats and particularly Councillor Hancock CBE MP. Most of all it demonstrates the bias and incompetence that our Officers in PCC have sunk to, to allow public money to be spent on political defence of allegations of corruption is totally unacceptable. The Chief Executive PCC, as Head of the official body, should either resign voluntarily or be forced to.
Whatever happened to the unbiased, non political public servant? Another blatant example of the depths to which the public sector has sunk to in this country.
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resigned,

southsea 07/09/2008 10:09:22
It is amazing that any politician should be allowed to dominate the city the way Councillor Hancock does and the disturbing thought is who do you turn to to complain as he is the MP as well. The Flagship magazine has been tarnished and it is no wonder local people don't trust politicians when those in question use public money to print propaganda stories promoting their point of view. Shame on you Mr Hancocok CBE MP and local Councillor.
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Inamess2,

07/09/2008 11:14:54
Has anyone received yellow letters stamped "House of Commons" and when opened there is a letter addressed from Councillor Mike Hancock, House of Commons. In it he states the Liberal Dems administration set up a contract with Colas. Surely it should be the ones asking if the contract is working to my benefit. This is surely pure political canvassing and miss-use of his position. Come on Conservatives, Labour, English Democrats, Greens,and Independences "What are you going to do about it? Don't just leave it to the "Portsmouth Freedom Fighters,"The Taxpayers Alliance" or Mark Austin. Lets' hear your comments and solutions.
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Roughshooter,

Portsmouth 07/09/2008 17:41:51
"Cabinet government" foisted on us by J Prescott has resulted in local democracy being weakened by the concentration of power into too few hands. In effect, apart from a vote on the budget, as far as I can see the cabinet can do much as they please - a case of absolute power doing much as it has always done?
Liberal & democratic, I don't think so.
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Scott McGarveys Perm,

Portsmouth 07/09/2008 18:35:04
Why in this day and age are we spending money on printing these things in the first place when most of them just end up in the bin.


I read mine, but I know other people just throw them away.........
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spyglass,

cheltenham 07/09/2008 18:40:34
i can only assume that all the comments to date were written by people with an axe to grind against Mr Hancock, possibly even dare i say it tories.

nothing quite like having disparaging and inflammatory comments made against a person when there can be no come back. i think people should look at what he has done for the city in various capacities before launching vitriolic and personal attacks.

would like to point out that i am not a lid-dem but one of a dying breed of socialists that became almost extinct when blair took over.
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