A small community company faces investigation by regulators after being dragged into the bitter row between ex-Labour councillor Jake Morrison and his former party colleagues. The Kensington and Fairfield Voice has been reported to Companies House amid claims it broke laws that bar ‘community interest companies’ from endorsing political candidates. The referral came after the latest issue of its newsletter was found to contain an advertisement for Wavertree Cllr Morrison’s running mate Steve Faragher and articles about both their campaigns for election next year. Labour Cllr Nick Small said he believed that the articles and advert called into question whether the Voice was breaking the rule that should prevent it from “influencing voters in relation to any election or referendum.” Most galling for the council is likely to be the fact that the Voice has received around £15,000 in council funding in recent years. If found to be breaking the rules, it could lose its status, be struck off and dissolved. But Mr Faragher, who is a director of the Voice, hit back at Labour, accusing the party of double standards. Companies House said that if found, breaches were “dealt with seriously and immediately.” Cllr Small said: “Community interest companies are like charities. “They exist for the benefit of the community. “This looks to me like public funds are being abused to promote the political ambitions of one of the directors and his mates.” The row between Cllr Morrison and Labour broke out when he resigned from the party in the midst of a falling-out with Wavertree MP Luciana Berger. She had written to Mayor Joe Anderson demanding he be investigated for his “total lack of respect” and refusal to be a “team player”. Since then, the row has continued publicly. Cllr Morrison told the ECHO he knew nothing of the Voice newsletter and that he “thought Cllr Small, as a cabinet member, should have better things to worry about than a leaflet, like getting young people jobs.” Mr Faragher, who says he paid for an advert in the Voice urging voters to “Support Your Local Independent Stephen Faragher” at the next elections, added: “The stories about us standing are pieces of news. “They haven’t criticised us for putting in stories about Labour in the past, but if it’s anyone else they run to Companies House.”
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 15:24:55 +0000
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