A Conservative political adviser at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has been forced to resign, after a taped phone conversation was posted on the internet, alleging that he was conspiring to oust the council’s deputy leader Alison Knight.
André Walker, a former high-flying Conservative student, who has previously worked for London Councils, and Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham councils, was recorded and photographed on a phone by another passenger on Tuesday night, travelling travelling back from Waterloo station.
The Slough & Langley Observer has the story:
A statement from the Royal Borough said: “Effective from this morning (Friday 5 March 2010) Mr André Walker has tendered his resignation from his position in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This has been accepted and he is no longer employed by the council. The Royal Borough will not be making any further comment.”
Mr Walker said: “I went into work today (Friday) as usual. My position was untenable and I resigned. I was on the train on Tuesday night, I made some comments I shouldn’t have, I was incredibly unlucky to sit next to a left wing activist who decided to record me.
“I put the council in a difficult position, I have apologised for that. A conversation I had was overheard, I said the wrong thing, I have apologised. That apology has gone to various people in the group including Alison Knight. I resigned because that was the appropriate thing to do. I haven’t spoken to Alison Knight.
“I think I have been pretty reasonable. I owned up to a mistake I have made. It’s pretty hurtful for me to hear all these allegations.”
Listen to the conversation below or view a transcript on You Tube.
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