COUNCILLOR PAUL DIMOLDENBERG

Early day motion 161, tabled 23 May 2005 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House congratulates Westminster City Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg on the outcome of the Local Government Standards Board inquiry and Adjudication Panel hearing into his conduct, which after almost two years of investigations and hearings has vindicated his whistleblowing over Conservative-controlled Westminster City Council's failure actively to pursue the recovery of the debt due from former Conservative Westminster City Council leader Dame Shirley Porter over the infamous homes for votes scandal; notes that Councillor Dimoldenberg's revelations led to the recovery of £12 million from Dame Shirley Porter; believes the outcome exposes the vindictive and politically motivated actions of Westminster's Chief Executive and Director of Legal Services in referring the case to the Standards Board and also calls into question the judgement of the Standards Board itself in pursuing the case at much cost to the public purse without due regard for any sense of proportionality or recognition that Councillor Dimoldenberg's actions were in the public interest; and calls upon the Government to review the rules under which the Standards Board operates so as to ensure that such ill-conceived witch hunts do not occur again.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Conservative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.