Tory Leader asserts his authority with letter (Blackpool Liberal Democrats)

Blackpool Liberal Democrats <info@blackpool-libdems.org.uk>

Tory Leader asserts his authority with letter

September 29, 2009 9:05 PM

kensington A SPLIT has emerged in Blackpool Conservatives after a developer handed two £5,000 donations to Tories.

One group of Tories have signed a letter, claiming they knew nothing about the handout from Kensington Developments Ltd, which wants to build thousands of homes on Marton Moss.

The first donation was to Blackpool South Conservative Association in July 2008 and the other in May this year.

Six Tory councillors have not signed the letter.

Council leader Coun Peter Callow, who said he did not know about the donations and demanded they were repaid, claiming it was "morally wrong," to accept them.

The money was returned and an investigation by the North West's senior Tory, John Walsh, was launched.

Now, 21 councillors, including Coun Callow and his deputy Coun Ian Fowler, have signed the letter to "clear their names" of any wrongdoing.

The letter says: "We wish it to be known that we did not know the donations to the Blackpool South Conservative Association were from Kensington Developments Ltd."

"We have been anxious to co-operate fully with investigations into the matter by the party and The Gazette.

"We believe that going public and stating these 21 councillors did not know the money came from Kensington is the only way to try to restore confidence in the party in Blackpool as a whole."

According to Mr Walsh's inquiry, the money was earmarked for a "fighting fund" for Tory parliamentary candidate Ron Bell.

Coun Bell said he could not comment as he had not seen the letter.

He along with five other councillors - Coun Jim Houldsworth, Coun Nicola Best, Coun Tim Cox and Coun Bell's brother, Coun Gary Bell - have not signed the letter. Coun Jean Kenrick, who is chairman of the Blackpool South Tories, also did not sign.

The internal inquiry cleared her of any wrongdoing, stating she had reported it through the proper channels to the Electoral Commission.

She declined to comment today and has stated her opposition to the Marton Moss development.

Coun Houldsworth also declined to comment. Couns Best and Gary Bell were unavailable for comment.

Coun Cox said: "I do not consider that such matters should have been raised publicly at this time, and believe each member has the right to respond or remain silent on such issues.

"I could, in conscience have signed the letter, but do not need to sign a meaningless letter to assuage my own conscience."

Coun Callow said: "I want an open administration and that's why people are going on the record stating they had no knowledge the cash came from Kensington.

With those who did know, I have to ask why did they not tell me about it."

Kensington submitted its original planning application in July 2008 for 640 homes on land off Moss House Road.

Blackpool Council ran out of time to vote on the application but indicated it would have turned it down.

A second application for 570 homes was submitted in June.

Angelia Hinds, chairman of Save Our Moss, said: "It would now be nice and right and proper to have some sort of formal statement from the person who received the donations, stating when and why they took them."

Joe Robinson - Blackpool Evening Gazette