SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND BRENT CONSERVATIVES

Early day motion 281, tabled 22 July 1997 by Ken Livingstone (Labour). Signed by 5 members.

That this House notes that the Conservative group on Brent Council, whilst refusing to punish councillors found guilty of financial corruption, have voted overwhelmingly to expel Councillor Chunilal Chavda from membership of the group; further notes that the decision, taken at a special meeting of the Conservative group; found that Councillor Chavda had conducted a concerted and sustained three year campaign of sexual harassment against a female Conservative councillor; is appalled that Councillor Chavda refused to apologise for his actions or to give assurances about his future conduct; welcomes the decision of the Conservative group to tackle this example of sleaze, but regrets that neither the Conservative group in Brent nor the Leader of the Opposition have been so forthright in dealing with Brent Conservative councillors found guilty of financial corruption by the Local Government Ombudsman last September; and concludes that both locally and nationally the Tory Party seems unable to understand that financial corruption corrodes the whole basis of public confidence in the democratic process.

Signatures by party: Labour 5.