Council Leader issues an apology

michaeljones

Council leader Michael Jones has issued an apology regarding the Easter message he released through Cheshire East Council on April 17th.

Cllr Michael Jones said "On 17 April 2014 as Leader of the Council I issued an Easter Message which by mistake contained political statements and which I fully acknowledge should not have been issued by or linked to the Council.

"The words in question were only ever intended to be issued by me personally and I apologise to the public, the Council and all elected members for any harm that this error may have caused. I accept full responsibility for the issue of this statement and as Leader I have taken steps to tighten up the processes to ensure that a similar error could not be repeated in the future."

Cllr Brian Silvester, Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor, made an official complaint about the Easter message.

He said "Firstly it is clearly wrong for a council officer and council facilities to be used to issue a press release calling on residents to keep faith with the Conservatives and giving reasons why they should not vote for UKIP or Labour.

"Secondly we are now in the purdah period for the European Elections and in that period the law prohibits the Council from publishing or assisting others to publish "any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party". It is clear that from the content of the press release that the Council Leader and the Council have broken the law."

Click here to view the Council Leader's Easter message.

Tags:
Cllr Michael Jones
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Chris Jones
Saturday 3rd May 2014 at 8:12 pm
This is a real problem in society, and lets see what pans out.
If Cllr jones has broken the law with his comment then throw the book at him.
The reason for the uprising of UKIP is that freedom of speech has gone and the working man no longer has a voice.
HANG HIM!!
Richard Fitzwilliam
Sunday 4th May 2014 at 8:25 am
Am I the only one who sees the comical irony that the Council leader breached European laws in a statement about not voting UKIP?