We’ll play no part in ‘biased’ standards committee, say Hackney Conservatives

Hackney Town Hall. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

Hackney Conservatives announced today that they have withdrawn from the standards committee – an influential group that passes judgement on the conduct of councillors and has the power to censure elected members.

Since the last local elections in 2010, only Conservative councillors have been referred to the committee.

The Tory group has expressed concern that the committee – meant to be impartial – it is being exploited as a political tool by the ruling Labour group.

Last month Councillor Michael Levy, whom the standards committee found to have breached codes of conduct, said he did not believe it was comprised of “even-handed” and independent people.

In practice the decision by Hackney Conservatives means the party no longer recognises decisions made by the committee and will play no part in its processes.

Cllr Levy’s Conservative colleague Bernard Aussenberg today called the committee “nakedly partisan”.