Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and Derek Hatton charged with bribery and misconduct

Hello,

Today’s Liverpool Daily Post brings you the news that former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been charged with offences of bribery and misconduct. Merseyside Police have today charged 12 people as part of their long-running Operation Aloft investigation, connected to the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

In other news, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been in Merseyside over the past couple of days - first meeting with Irish leaders in Liverpool on Wednesday evening, before a visit to Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird shipyard yesterday. Liam Thorp was in attendance in the Wirral town and we bring you his reports below.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and Derek Hatton charged with bribery and misconduct

Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been charged with offences of bribery and misconduct.Merseyside Police have today charged 12 people as part of its long-running Operation Aloft investigation, connected to the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.Police said that Joseph Anderson, 67, of The Beechwalk, Knotty Ash, has been charged with one count of bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.The former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council Derek Hatton, 77, of Livingston Drive, Aigburth, has been charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office.Others charged include Liverpool Council's former director of regeneration Nick Kavanagh and his former assistant director Andrew Barr. Julian and Paul Flanagan, the founders of Liverpool building company The Flanagan Group.Those charged are:David Anderson, 37 years, Wincanton Street, Wavertree, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public officeJoseph Anderson, 67 years, of The Beechwalk, Knotty Ash, charged with one count of Bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office – former Mayor of LiverpoolAndrew Barr, 51 years, of Kendal Way, Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery – former Assistant Director at Liverpool City CouncilPhillipa Cook, 49 years of Rookery Drive, Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of briberyAlex Croft, 29 years, of Bold Lane, Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one count of briberyJulian Flanagan, 53 years, of Poplar Avenue, Crosby charged with one count of conspiracy to commit briberyPaul Flanagan 61 years, of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit briberyDerek Hatton, 77 years, of Livingston Drive, Aigburth, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public officeSonjia Hatton, 49 years, of Livingston Drive, Aigburth, charged with one count of misconduct in a public officeNicholas Kavanagh, 56 years, of Rookery Drive, Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery – former Director at Liverpool City CouncilAdam McLean, 54 years, of Acrefield Road, Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit briberyJames Shalliker, 38 years of School Lane, Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit briberyAll those charged will appear at Preston Magistrates Court on Friday March 28 2025.?

Keir Starmer says he wants to bring defence jobs to Merseyside after spending increase

The Prime Minister visited Merseyside yesterday and said he wanted his government's huge increase in defence spending to turn into jobs for businesses in this region, reports Liam Thorp. Sir Keir Starmer was at Wirral's Cammell Laird shipyard yesterday (Thursday) following meetings on Wednesday evening with Irish leaders in Liverpool. During his visit to the Birkenhead business he spoke with staff and told them they will play a key role in the defence and security of the country at an increasingly dangerous time. Last week, Sir Keir announced plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, funding the rise through cuts to the foreign aid budget. The decision came as leaders across Europe look to step up their defence policies amid fears the US could strike a deal with Russia over its conflict with Ukraine, leaving the continent in a vulnerable position. But speaking to workers and apprentices at Cammell Laird, the Prime Minister said he wanted the huge increase in defence spending to be seen as an 'opportunity' as well as a key security responsibility. He said shipyards like the one in Birkenhead would play a vital role and could see an increase in work and jobs along the way. Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, the Prime Minister said: "On the really important issue of defence and security of our country, last week I announced the highest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, up to 2.5% by 2027, so that's a really tight timetable and then onward from there. I did that because the defence and security of our country is the first duty of the Prime Minister and I take it extremely seriously. "So it is a duty but it is also an opportunity because I want to see that extra spend go into British jobs, British skills, British opportunities and British businesses like Cammell Laird. They have a fantastic workforce here and their strapline is 'proud to support those who serve' and I want to see the extra spend go into jobs in places like this so that we get the economic boom and so that we get economic stability and security as well as the security we need in this country." Cammell Laird is a global leader in the maritime defence sector and the Prime Minister urged workers to be proud of their efforts which he said are providing crucial support to the nation's armed forces. He said: "Coming and seeing what you are doing is a real highlight for me, you can't read about this sort of thing, you need to come and see it, the scale of it, the size of it and the skill that is required for what you do. Thank you for what you are doing. 'Proudly supporting those who serve' is what I've just read in one of your meeting rooms and that is what you do. "There is always the front line - our armed forces - who are doing a fantastic job, but they wouldn't be able to do their job if they didn't have you, proudly supporting what they are doing. So I hope you feel a real sense of pride in the work that you are doing, because you are serving your country."?

?Prime Minister quizzed on future of disgraced MP Mike Amesbury

During Sir Keir’s Birkenhead visit, the ECHO’s Liam Thorp took the opportunity to ask about the future of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who was last week sentenced over his assault of a constituent during a drunken night out in Frodsham last year. The Runcorn and Helsby MP had an initial 10 week jail term suspended on appeal, but this sentence will still trigger a recall petition that is likely to see him removed from office and a by-election held.That process appears not to be underway yet and a week on from his appeal hearing, Amesbury has still not provided any clarity or any statement about his future. There are many who feel Amesbury should resign following his conviction, but he has remained silent. When the ECHO tried to get an answer at the politician's home, we were told "no thank you" by a relative.Amesbury was suspended by the Labour Party when footage of him attacking Paul Fellows in Frodsham came to light last year. When he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault he resigned his party membership altogether.Asked today whether he felt Amesbury should resign and spark an immediate by-election, the Prime Minister said: "As far as Mike Amesbury is concerned obviously we acted very swiftly in that case and there is now a process that needs to be go through, but we were very clear in how we acted as a party."Pushed on whether the convicted MP should resign his seat, Sir Keir added: "There is a process for that, that isn't owned by me but we acted in relation to the powers that I have got, very, very quickly in this case."A custodial sentence - suspended or otherwise - means a recall petition is automatically triggered. If 10% of voters in his constituency sign the petition then Amesbury will be removed from office and a by-election will be held. Halton Council will be the organisation tasked with running the petition process, which is understood not to be officially underway yet.?

Contact us

Is there something you'd like to run by us? Please contact me at [email protected]?- If you have enjoyed reading this email, why not forward it to a friend? And if your friend has passed this on to you, you can sign up for free daily updates at this link.