As the Manchester Evening News reports:
Mayor elect in ‘sacking bid’ row
A MAN earmarked for mayor is accused of abusing his position in a bid to get a political rival sacked from her job as a nurse.[Labour councillor] Robin Parker, who is due to take over as mayor of Rochdale next month, admits repeatedly emailing bosses of Rochdale Infirmary asking them to take action against Coun Jean Ashworth for publicly criticising the trust.
In his emails he has cited the case of Manchester nurse Karen Reissman who was sacked for speaking out against changes.
He claims he was not using his official town hall role when he complained about Coun Ashworth’s online diary.
But he admits revealing he was a councillor when he felt Pennine Acute Hospital Trust (PAHT) managers were stalling over his complaint. He has since told the M.E.N. that he did not aim for Coun Ashworth to be sacked.
Hospital bosses say they will not take action against Coun Ashworth, who represents Smallbridge and Firgrove, and works as a healthcare assistant, for comments she made in her role as a councillor.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has referred the issue to the standards board – who have the power to suspend councillors found guilty of breaching guidelines…
He said: “This type of bullying, aggressive behaviour should not be tolerated and I feel in the light of the publication of his crude attempt to get Jean sacked he should consider whether he is the type of person fit to represent our borough.”
Lib Dem Coun Ashworth has been an outspoken critic of reorganisation plans which will see the infirmary lose some services…
John Saxby chief executive of Pennine Acute Hospitals replied to Coun Parker’s complaints saying: “The comments about which you complained and which she has made as a local councillor in her councillor’s diary are not a breach of her terms and conditions of employment.”
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9 Comments
Ho ho ho. Rowen calling anyone for bullying, aggressive behaviour is hilarious. He and his side kick Hennigan boss things like some mafia in Rochdale.
Rowen may in fact be on the side of the angels in this case as it were but he and his cronies have been up to all sorts. Including over-turning the de-selection of one of his love-hate cronies by some very partisan manipulation.
Wonder what Standards will make of that?
Why not ask them Chris? Perhaps you have some evidence?
Thought not.
He never asks Steve…
He’s not to good on evidence either Dave – see his comments on LDV when asked for the leaflets which (he claims) had us supporting planning permission for a mosque on one side of Leeds Road in Oldham and opposing it on the other.
http://tinyurl.com/583o2m
Hywel are you saying that LDs were NOT calling for these contradicting things on either side of that particular road? Or that they were not called in by Phil Woolas MP for this pandering to racism and communalism both on his patch?
And yes Steve and Dave there is lots of evidence of Dave and Paul’s bullying ways. And of the blocking of the deselection in question in an ultimately rather bent manner.
Watch this space.
Go on then Chris please provide evidence of this.
I don’t know Chris. Certainly they weren’t in my time there but I don’t think anyone can say for certain that something they have no knowledge of didn’t happen.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask you to justify a statement you have made on several occasions.
OK, Hywel. It is reasonable to ask. As I’ve said before I’ll provide more information when it suits me to do so not when it suits you. I haven’t named the individuals but if someone in the local Lib Dems party there wishes to try an action for defamation for this, then bring it on.
OK, Hennigan. I’ll blog it when I have enough time. Your erratic behaviour is legendary and often in the local papers. And Rowen is reckoned to be far and away the worst Rochdale MP in history. That of course is subjective.
But it is the case that he was first trying to purge this fella, then trying (successfully so far) to save his candidacy. Even though he apparently lost the selection ballot.
Hearing Chris Paul reminds me why I left the Labour Party it is full of people like him goin on about how everyone else is somehow defective and is a complete crook or bully.
Chris Paul give me a break provide the evidence or shut up.
The Labour Party have let people down and Phil Woolas is a Blairite and as for Richard Leese well he is so right wing its a crime!