Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
POLICE arrest, then release, Haringey Councillors
TWO Haringey Councillors were arrested and released in connection with a demonstration in support of the ‘Defend Our Juries’ campaign.
The Councillors' action stands in contrast with the earlier suppression of any discussion about Gaza in council, by the current Haringey Council leader (i.e. by Kier Starmer's local New Labour representative).
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The Police action stands in contrast to the apparent absence of action in an unrelated matter involving Haringey Councillor(s) and/or a council employee. i.e. the fraud alleged in at least one property deal.
Over a 36-month period, Haringey Council lost at least £10,000,000 in irregular transactions. Plural.
In 2022, council leader Peray Ahmet belatedly but properly, agreed to an external investigation.
That led—a year later—to the [pre-redacted] Buss Report.
More than one Councillor volunteered to be interviewed.
The Council Chief Executive confirmed that the "full" version of the Buss Report was sent to the Met Police.
However—more than a year ago—the Ham & High reported that the Police investigation was still "ongoing".
One has to wonder how the Police investigation is going. In contrast with their arrests of Haringey Councillors at the top, there is no news of any arrest relating to any Haringey Council property deal.
Tags for Forum Posts: Buss Report, Cranwood, Fraud, Gaza, Genocide, Haringey Council, Met, Metropolitan Police, Police, Property Deals
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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Have you read the Ham and High newspaper article, Drew? It's irritating I know to try to follow the detail among the barrage of ads. But I noticed several contrasts with the massive dodgy property issues which Clive Carter has rightly raised. Only to meet long delays and obstruction, in his Freedom of Information requests.
One contrast is plainly the openness of Mary Mason and Lotte Collett. Unlike many people they were public about their views on Israel and Gaza and the shocking ongoing Genocide. They acted on their views. Using their real full names. Peray Ahmet Council leader could have found a way to welcome their primcipled views and given them space and time to express these views.
The two left the Labour Party in 2023. In the Ham & High, Mary Mason describes her plan to join a protest group walking from El Arish - in Egypt - to Rafah in the southern part of Gaza. Their group - Mary Mason says - were prevented reaching their goal by Egyptian police swinging sticks.
They were fortunate not to meet the Israelis who appear less fussy in how they treat civil disobedience. As we saw with past Palestinian civil disobedience marches in Gaza, among the approved methods used were Israeli snipers shooting medics, journalists and disabled people.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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long delays and obstruction, in his Freedom of Information requests.
Indeed. Another day, another FoI request.
Again, about the £6,100,000 factory deal in Enfield.
De jure—the formal "Decision" to buy s clapped-out building with asbestos roof was rubber-stamped during a Cabinet meeting and it was billed as a Key Decision.
However, the cabinet de jure Decision later metamorphosed into a Non-key decision, and the decision was made de facto by three persons:
By a council officer, to whom the £6,100,000 the de facto, "Non Key" purchase decision was "delegated" by the then-leader and his crony, and with whom the decision would be discussed.
it's all in "Cab" papers.
The factory purchase was just one of the nine Haringey Council property deals subject to external investigation, but is not known to be subject necessarily to Police investigation.
Including four years of overheads, the council's losses (our losses) were £3,000,000.
The current leader, Cllr. Ahmet, is more likely to want to speak about Haringey Borough of Culture 2027.
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Permalink Reply by Iris Allan
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Presumably those two councillors will resign or be asked to resign if convicted.
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IRIS in your view, what should or might, the two councillors be convicted of?
Why should they resign?
Many Haringey residents are likely to be proud of their several actions, that have sought to draw attention to the Gaza genocide.
Also, do you have any views about the use of Police resources, or interest in serious allegations of fraud and corruption at our local council?
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Supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation.
And yes, the separate allegations of fraud and corruption involving different people at Haringey Council should be investigated which it appears is happening.
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Iris, I'd hope they are welcomed with cheers.
As I recall I've never met Mary or Lotte. But why must electors of Haringey lose the choice of councillors with principles?
Aren't you shocked by the Genocide? I suspect that more and more people in the UK are sickened - both by the vile attack of Hamas and the entirely disproportionate response by the Israeli Government.
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They've been charged with a criminal offence. If they're found guilty, they are not fit for public office.
It would be the same if they were police officers found guilty of taking backhanders, MPs blatantly fiddling their expenses, judges taking bribes or civil servants selling state secrets.
You don't get to choose which laws you follow. That's part of living in a democratic society; the part that asigns obligations as well as rights.
The elected government has proscribed 'Palestine' action as a terrorist group. What is publicly known is that some of their members illegally entered an RAF base and damaged the planes we rely on for national defence. It's safe to presume that the Home Secretary also had access to additional non public information from the Security Service and the Met's counter terrorism branch which informed her decision.
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The custom and legal practice among fair and reasonable people - when I was once a lawyer - used to be awaiting a court hearing; before pronouncing a verdict of guilt; and not preceded by deciding punishment.
In your back-to-front world where Raphael Lemkin apparently did not exist, the murder of children and babies seems not to count. Nor that people may exist who regard Genocide with such horror that they are prepared to try persuading a U.K. Government to reverse or modify their judgment about Palestine Action. Which appears to be having the opposite effect to that intended and intead to publicise the group and attract people to their ranks.
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Correct. And you'll note that I have said if found guilty and if convicted on both my posts above for that very reason.
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Iris, you began this part of the thread by speculating on the punishment.
"Presumably those two councillors will resign or be asked to resign if convicted."
As I said the sequence I presumed has several steps/stages. Let's allow the courts and everyone's lawyers to do their stuff.
_______________You don't seem to know even the basics of all this.
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Speculating on the punishment if convicted Alan.
I'm guessing you never quite made it to KC.
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