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Meacher probes Miller case
Date published: 09 March 2010
AN OLDHAM MP has requested all background papers connected to the bungled Vance Miller prosecution to find out who gave it the go-ahead.
Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, submitted a Freedom of Information request to Oldham Council for all documents and minutes of meetings regarding the prosecution.
The request includes documents from when the prosecution was first mooted, to when the case was thrown out and right up to the present day.
Mr Meacher has also asked for documents from meetings between council officials and elected members.
The botched fraud trial, hailed as the largest, most expensive fraud trial brought by a Trading Standards authority in the UK, was due to last six months but collapsed in its 17th week.
Mr Miller (44), from Ramsbottom, was cleared along with co-defendants Nichola Brodie (33), also from Ramsbottom, Sadiya Hussain (29), from Milnrow, and Alan Ford (45), from Ashton.
Head of Oldham Trading Standards, Tony Allen, has been suspended ahead of a review of the case.
Oldham Council has now appealed against a judge’s order for the authority to pay the costs of the trial, an estimated £5million.
Mr Meacher said his request should clarify who was responsible for making the decision to prosecute.
He said: “This should throw some much-needed light and transparency on the murky background behind this ill-advised venture.
Comments
And about time too, perhaps now we will be told the truth about this fiasco!!!!
I wonder if we, mere mortals, would have any success if we demanded papers from the council under the Freedom of Information Act. I think not, as I have found out many times. Try asking for a copy of the map showing the exact boundary for Clayton Playing fields - no chance.
Good luck to you Mr Meacher, Though I'm sure it is only a stunt to help at the elections.
so why is the MP from down south suddenly so concerned about this case...
... were was he in 2006 when the case was started by his Labour run council cronies...
... of course that was after the election, time for an holiday for three or four years until he needs to campaign again for the next election...
...of course it is this year that there is going to be an election...
...surprise surprise he has had to make that long train journey up to Oldham...
...2006 was the time to say not to go ahead
But no CEO or councillor will loose there jobs so why bother or just trying to catch votes
I bet the council will not released any documents until they have completed their official inquiry.
As for Claytons- the reason why they wont release any documents is that they don't know the exact boundary, and they have not kept to the Trust agreement
If they don't reply-report them for failing to comply with the Act, or alternately contact the Land Registry and get the registration document, this will show the exact boundary - do it on line and it will only cost a couple of pounds
Nothing is going to be truly satifactory on this until the issue is investigated by a truly independent body like the Audit Commission. Meacher asking for the papers helps to make sure that there can be less chance of Parker Sykes hiding things in the internally generated external enquiry.
Sounds convoluted but i think people will sense my drift.
Don't ya just love it when Mickey oozes into action. If he gets involved it could end up costing us twice as much. Still we've been carrying him for the last forty years. So what's new? Where was he when word of the impending prosecution was big news? Election? Bandwagon?? Gravy Train???
Have Your Say
I think Mr Meacher is being a little niave if he thinks this will lead to a quick resolution as to finding the guilty parties.
In the unlikely event of the FIA actually finding the "smoking gun" surely past incidences has shown that the guilty parties are simply allowed to resign quietly with the minimum of fuss and bad press.
I'll bet Mr Meacher my council tax payment that in 12 months the only person to bear the brunt of this will be the already "designated sacrificial lamb" Mr Tony Allen
By lefthook @ 09/03/2010 13:00:23