It seems that events have progressed faster than expected in the "roads for votes" scandal which has seen Swansea's top councillors under police investigation for alleged misconduct.
The Beans on Toast provides a matter of fact account this morning that South Wales Police have now passed their findings onto the Crown Prosecutions Service (CPS) - thus clarifying that criminal investigation have been undertaken into the actions of council leader Chris Holley, his deputy John Hague and senior tory Paton Hood-Williams.
An ombudsman's investigation into allegations that money was to be made available to certain tory-held wards in return for support for the Lib Dem Independent coalition at crucial votes was put on hold when the case was also referred to the police. The alleged breach of the local government code of conduct was reported by the council's chief executive following complaints from a councillor and a member of the public.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Swansea's Lib Dems - and Peter Black in particular - have consistently attempted to play down matters with the local media in the role of willing accomplice until quite recently. It took a BBC news item before the issue went public locally.
Even so, the threadbare state of accountability among Swansea's political landscape means it is unlikely that today's news will change matters. The Lib Dems have declined to suspend Holley from office whilst Hague is an independent. Welsh Conservatives have suspended Hood-Williams but the local group has decided to ignore the decision.
Somehow the expression "Swansea deserves better" just doesn't cover it on this occasion.
1 Comments:
The story doing the rounds is that Holley will be cleared of wrong-doing by the police. I doubt that he will be as lucky with the ombudsman.
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