Labour Councillor Paul Greenaway - Drink Driving

Paul Greenaway

A PORT Talbot councillor has been disqualified from driving after he was caught behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

Labour councillor Paul Greenaway, 61, who represents the Baglan ward, has been disqualified from driving for 20 months.

He could now face disciplinary action by his party.

A Welsh Labour spokesman said they were aware of Greenaway's court appearance and it was up to the Neath Port Talbot Labour Group to decide on any action.

"The Neath Port Talbot Labour Group will decide appropriate disciplinary action to take at their next meeting," said the spokesman.

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Labour Councillor Abid Hussain Arrested Over Keighley Violent Disorder

Abid Hussain

A Bradford councillor has been arrested in connection with a street brawl in Keighley.

Councillor Abid Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central) was one of six men arrested over the weekend following the torching of a car in Devonshire Street where he lives and where a brawl broke out on August 8 this year.

The 53-year-old councillor, who is vice-president of the Keighley Muslim Association, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder on August 8 then released on police bail.

Three other Keighley men aged 18, 19 and 34 were arrested in connection with same matter.

Two others, aged 27 and 30 were also arrested for alleged violent disorder on the same date, and also on suspicion of arson relating to the car fires which happened in the early hours of Saturday.

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Former Tory Mayor Stephen Holmes Jailed for Child Porn

Stephen Holmes

A well-liked former mayor was jailed today (Friday) after secretly amassing a huge collection of child pornography on his computer.

Stephen Holmes, 61, who had served as Dacorum Mayor, was also a school governor.

At the time of his arrest earlier this year, he was a Conservative councillor on Dacorum Borough Council and Herts County Council, where he had held a post as deputy cabinet member for children’s services.

But today his reputation lay in shreds as he was sent to prison for 10 months.

St Albans Crown Court heard how over 16 years and while he was held in high esteem by his local community he began collecting indecent images of children.

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Labour Councillor Chris Vobe Suspended Over Computer Hacking Allegations

Labour Councillor Chris Vobe

THE son of Warrington MP Helen Jones, Clr Chris Vobe, has been suspended by Labour party bosses.

Clr Vobe, who was elected in May, was informed of the decision on Tuesday.

He is now the second member of the town’s Labour councillors to be suspended by his own party after frontbencher Clr Hitesh Patel was suspended last month.

The Warrington Guardian understands the allegations surround the potential hacking of computer accounts.

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Former Lib Dem MP Candidate Vincent McKee Guilty of 25 Frauds

Vincent McKee

A MAN who stood as an MP in Coventry has been found guilty of another fraud offence.

Vincent McKee, 54, of Hanbury Place, Little Heath, Coventry, had already been found guilty of 24 counts of fraudulently taking money from students and families.

The jury returned again yesterday afternoon to find him guilty of one further similar charge.

A trial at Coventry Crown Court has heard McKee took thousands of pounds from students or parents while running a firm offering private lessons to students.

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Conservative Councillor David Stephenson - Sick in the head

David Stephenson - Sick in the head

A senior Derbyshire councillor has lost his cabinet position after making a "poor joke" about two Manchester police officers who were shot dead last week.

PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes were killed in Mottram last Tuesday.

David Stephenson was removed by Erewash Borough Council leader Chris Corbett for his remarks about scoring points for killing police officers.

Mr Stephenson said: "What I did was undoubtedly tactless - it was a poor joke and I apologise."

However the Conservative councillor said he believed his punishment was harsh.

Mr Stephenson made the comments in front of the wife of a sergeant with Nottinghamshire Police.

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Labour Councillor Brian Gate, quits after child porn arrest

Brian Gate

The councillor in charge of the borough’s children has resigned after being arrested on suspicion of having indecent images of children.

Councillor Brian Gate, cabinet member for children, schools and families, was arrested at his Harrow home on September 24 by detectives from the Metropolitan Police and has been bailed until early November pending further enquiries, the Harrow Times can reveal.

Harrow Council will formally announce his resignation at tomorrow night’s cabinet meeting, but councillors and senior headteachers from across the borough have already been informed of his arrest.

Cllr Gate, who is married to Harrow on the Hill councillor Ann Gate, has been in his post as portfolio holder for children since May, but has been responsible for schools and families since Labour took control of the council after the 2010 General Election.

In a statement, the Met said: “We can confirm that a 57-year-old man was arrested on September 24 at a residential address in the Harrow area on suspicion of the possession of indecent images of children.

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Tory Councillor Chris Boothby Charged With Benefit Fraud

Chris Boothby - Conservative

A HINCKLEY councillor has been charged with benefit fraud and will appear in court later this month.

Cllr Chris Boothby, who represents Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, is alleged to have claimed more than £1,500 in benefits, including jobseeker’s allowance, while working as a bus driver for Leicester City Council.

He has also been suspended from the Conservative party - at least until the case is concluded.

Cllr Boothby, from Ratby, is being prosecuted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who accuse him of claiming £949 in jobseeker’s allowance, as well as £560 in housing benefit, while still getting behind the wheel of a bus to work. It is also alleged that he was claiming unemployment benefit for his wife, Tina, while she was working in a pub in Markfield.

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