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Finnegan Rejected

Morley Advertiser 1st March 2000 A comeback attempt by a former Leeds councillor, who resigned after using a council computer to download pornography from the internet, has failed. Robert Finnegan, of Moorside View, Drighlington, had hoped to be a Labour candidate at the new Morley Town Council elections in May. He represented Middleton on the city council when a probe into the pornography affair led to his resignation until November, 1998. Mr Finnegan was interviewed by a Party selection panel on Friday evening. But on Tuesday morning, a Labour spokesman confirmed: “Former Labour Party councillor Robert Finnegan’s application to stand as a Labour candidate in the forthcoming Morley Town Council elections has been rejected. “An interview panel, drawn from the Morley and Rothwell Constituency Labour Party Executive Committee and the Regional Party, interviewed Mr Finnegan. “But the interviewing panel took the view that Robert Finnegan did not demonstrate that he met the standards required by the party in relation to local government standards and ethics. “It would therefore not be appropriate for him to stand as a Labour Party candidate. “The Labour Party expects the highest standards from its representatives and Mr Finnegan failed to demonstrate to the panel his understanding and acceptance of this.” On Tuesday a local Labour Party insider said: “How he could even consider putting his name forward, I just don’t know. “He is the father of four children, and to have put them through the business with the internet in the first place was bad enough. “But to subject them to further taunts from other children at school, which would undoubtedly have happened, was unforgivable.” Another Morley party member also spoke out saying: “When one stands for public office, one has to be absolutely whiter than white. Public confidence is so important, and that must be earned by all candidates. A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “The threat to the credibility of the town council before it was even elected has now been removed.” On Tuesday the Advertiser contacted Mr Finnegan, who declined to comment. Political parties are currently drawing up lists of candidates for the Town Council elections on Thursday, May 4. Twenty-four new council seats will be up for grabs, and several independent candidates are expected to be nominated. A public meeting to will be held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Commercial Street, Morley, next Thursday, March 9, at 7.30pm to explain the procedure.