Top stories

Finnegan denied chance to return

Morley Observer 2nd March 2000 Former Councillor Robert Finnegan has expressed his disappointment after the Labour Party refused him the chance to make a political comeback. Mr Finnegan of Moorside Walk, Drighlington, resigned from Leeds City Council last year after being caught downloading pornographic material from the Internet. His collegue also resigned. But the father-of-four announced his bid last week to stand for Morley Town Council, which will have its elections in May. He was interviewed last Friday by a panel from the Morley and Rothwell Constituency Labour Party Executive Committee and the Regional Party who announced on Tuesday they had turned his application down. BROWNED OFF Speaking to the Observer yesterday, Mr Finnegan, the former councillor for Middleton, said; “I’m not entirely surprised by the outcome, I think they were just going through the motions to be honest. “I’m pretty browned off at this point that there is no role for me in the Labour Party. If I’d have got through the selection process it would have been up to the people of Morley to decide.” He said he would not be appealing against the decision but did not entirely rule out a comeback in the future. “I think I’m just going to take some time and reflect,” he added. A Labour Party spokesman said the interviewing panel took the view Mr Finnegan did not meet the standards required by the party in relation to local government standards and ethics. STANDARDS “We expect the highest standards from our representatives and Mr Finnegan failed to demonstrate to the panel his understanding and acceptance of this,” he said. Mr Tom Leadley, chairman of the town council committee, said members welcomed the decision. “From our point of view it’s welcome news because we think it would have discredited Morley Town Council before it had even begun. “We’re quite satisfied he’s been turned down.”