A STANDARDS committee at Pendle Council has turned into nothing more than a "sordid kangaroo court" used by hypocrites to smear their political opponents, according to local Liberal Democrat chairman Tim Haigh.

He is calling on the District Auditor - the local government watchdog - to investigate what he calls the "scandalous conduct of the so-called standards committee". His call comes in the wake of last week's meeting when Barnoldswick Liberal Democrat councillor, David Whipp, was sanctioned by the committee for threatening Labour rival Coun Azhar Ali during a council meeting.

Now, Mr Haigh is calling on the District Auditor to take action.

"We have watched appalled as Socialist and Tory councillors have ganged up to waste public time and money on doubtful proceedings which depart from all known actual standards of decent conduct," he said.

"To start with, none of these hypocrites see fit to declare an interest themselves when vilifying in the most vindictive way people they know personally, and who happen to be political opponents.

"Nor are the members of the so-called standards committee instructed to act judicially, as clearly they should be, or to follow any rules of evidence. The same people may act as complainant and prosecuting counsel, judge, jury and executioner."

Mr Haigh continued: "Worst of all is that political pressure was clearly applied to hold a meeting of this sordid kangaroo court in April, during local election time, so as to attack an actual candidate in those elections, and obviously in an attempt to besmirch others. It is clear what must happen: Pendle Council must suspend this squalid unjust farce, nullify all its tainted decisions and expunge them from the public record."

Brierfield Labour councillor Frank Clifford, who was chairman of the standards committee that dealt with Coun Whipp's case, refuted Mr Haigh's claims. He added that the Liberals had been fully involved in setting up the committee: "The standards committee was set up with officer guidance and agreed by all parties," he said. "Indeed, the first case it heard, in December last year, was a complaint made by none other than Coun David Whipp. That complaint was against a Labour member and it was upheld. I was on that committee."

Coun Clifford added that evidence was presented to the committee from both sides and it was on the basis of that evidence, and on that alone, that decisions were made.

Pendle Council's solicitor, Philip Mousdale, declined to comment on the issue except to say: "I can't believe the District Auditor would investigate."

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