On June 3th this in the Telegraph: ‘Terrible message’ sent out to victims of abuse as Shakil Ahmed is appointed “first citizen” of the notorious borough of Rochdale. A Labour councillor in Greater Manchester was elected deputy mayor despite colleagues knowing of a complaint that he had harassed a young woman. The uncontested vote for Shakil Ahmed last month means he should automatically become the mayor and “first citizen” of Rochdale next year.
Councillors have also accused the local leadership of pressuring civil servants to delay the start of a formal investigation into Mr Ahmed until after last month’s local elections.
In addition to the complaint against Mr Ahmed, The Telegraph has been told by two sources of a separate allegation of sexual harassment against a different councillor, which is being investigated by Greater Manchester Police.
The Telegraph has seen a letter to Mr Emmott signed by numerous Labour councillors ahead of the annual general meeting on May 17, begging him not to put them in the position of voting for someone against whom there was an outstanding complaint of harassment. “This sends out a terrible message when it comes to our support for victims, especially women and girls, everywhere,” it reads.
The plea went unheeded, prompting a partial boycott of the normally fully attended AGM. The Manchester Evening News reported live from the meeting that: “There are several apologies for absence tonight, noticeably from the Labour group”, commenting that the room seemed “unusually sparse”. However, among those who did attend, a show of hands in favour of Mr Ahmed’s appeared unanimous so no dissenting vote was called. If they were really worried why not attend and vote against? Too difficult maybe?
Sources within the group said a junior female officer at the council first voiced complaints informally about Mr Ahmed’s alleged misconduct in February, before making a formal complaint the following month. Mr Ahmed declined an invitation to comment, as did Mr Emmott. However, a spokesman for Rochdale Borough Council said: “Following an assessment of a complaint, an investigation is now under way and will be dealt with through the council’s standards process. No further comment will be provided until the investigation has concluded.”
And now today: Rochdale council leadership kept sexual harassment complaint against mayor quiet. Ali Ahmed completed his mayoral term free from scrutiny and went on to secure the chairmanship of a powerful committee.
The Sunday Telegraph can disclose that allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a woman were made against Ali Ahmed in February, while he was the sitting Mayor of Rochdale, but kept from his colleagues and the wider public. It enabled Labour to contest the closely-fought local elections free from the taint of scandal, and Mr Ahmed to complete his mayoral term last month free from scrutiny. He went on to secure the chairmanship of a powerful committee guiding a swathe of local policy making.
A spokesman for Labour in Rochdale said there was no complaint outstanding against the former mayor because it had been “withdrawn”. A source familiar with the matter said: “She felt stressed. There was a complete lack of support, so she withdrew.” When The Telegraph contacted Ali Ahmed on Tuesday, he refused to comment.
So this complaint isn’t likely to be the one mentioned above which is being investigated by the police if the woman withdrew it; there must be a third complaint against a third councillor. This is looking like a pattern.
It is the second such controversy in a week to rock the party in the North West after this newspaper revealed that Shakil Ahmed, the incoming deputy mayor, is also the subject of a harassment complaint.
When The Telegraph contacted Ali Ahmed on Tuesday, he refused to comment.
One of the most approved comments – It’s OK. The DPP will brush it under the carpet to preserve racial harmony and the police will be told to stay out of it, and accuse the victims . . . We’ve seen it all before. MANY times
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One Response
Let’s face it, there is no end to those who deliberately offend.
There was a time, along with rights and responsibilities there were community mores, common courtesies, simple decencies. Now, its more like sullen, senseless insultancies.