Hazel Blears may face criminal investigation
Local residents in Salford have referred Hazel Blears recent Parliamentary expenses claims to the Metropolitan Police.
Following new information on MP’s expenses claims, community activists from the Hazel Must Go campaign have requested Hazel Blears MP be subject to a criminal investigation. The Metropolitan Police are expected to look into the allegations.
Metropolitan Police Chief - Sir Paul Stephenson has vowed to investigate MPs Expenses
The Metropolitan Police Cheif Sir Paul Stephenson vowed to target more politicians involved in the scandal. Sir Paul reassured concerned members of the public that any information received would be passed directly to prosecutors “as soon as possible”. Blears is not the only member of parliament to be investigated, however John Bercow MP (speaker of House of Commons) told the BBC in November that Hazel Blears is certainly “one of those who still has many questions to answer”.
Viewers of a recent BBC Panorama programme will be aware of how Hazel Blears has refused to answer questions about her Parliamentary expense claims. Following the House of Commons revelation of the ACA expense claims of all MPs for the expenses year 2008-09 ‘Hazel Must Go!’ believes that those who have the authority to demand answers should now call in Mrs. Blears for questioning.
Hazel Must Go Spokesperson Steve North commented: “We’re at a loss to understand why Hazel hasn’t already been deselected as a Labour candidate. Our campaign has concentrated on identifying why we believe Hazel is unfit to be Salford’s MP … but we’re now very concerned about the possible implications of Hazel’s expense claims.”
On the detail of their letter to the Metropolitan Police Steve’s colleague David Henry remarked: “We’re worried that Hazel’s expense claims are not entirely correct and have offered observations and comments to the police which we anticipate will trigger a formal investigation. Just as child or housing benefit claimants do not receive taxpayer’s money without appropriate checks we do not believe MPs should be receiving taxpayer’s money without validation. All MPs sign their expense claim forms to the effect they have incurred their claimed expenses.”
Sir Thomas Legg in “ACA Review The Reviews Approach to the ACA Rules” wrote: “Tthe practice of the Fees Office before 2008-09 of not requiring receipts for a variety of expenditures less than £250 a month (£400 in the case of food) has been accepted for the purposes of the Review. However, where subsequent claims or other evidence suggest that such earlier payments may have been materially incorrect, the Review will request evidence to substantiate the earlier payments.”
Hazel Blears is merely one of a number of MPs who must now be required to substantiate their unreceipted expense claims.
In June 2009 members of the Hazel Must Go Campaign attempted to perform a Citizen Arrest on her under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 outside a during a vibrant and vocal protest outside a Labour Party de-selection meeting. Greater Manchester Police claimed they did not have enough evidence at the time to peruse the matter and the alleged fraudulent activity had taken place outside their jurisdiction in Westminster.
We have requested that Hazel Blears now be subject to a formal criminal investigation.
For more information contact Steven North (Secretary)
Email: blearsmustgo@gmail.com / Phone: 07817 434 240
2 comments December 22, 2009
Blears: Prepare to be challenged – “like never before”
To see the full size article click here
Salford Advertiser: ”Group to Run Against Hazel” (November 5th 2009)
By Pamela Welsh
CAMPAIGNERS hoping to oust Salford MP Hazel Blears from her seat say they will put another candidate up against her.
The Hazel Must Go campaign had issued the Salford MP with an ultimatum to resign her seat before Halloween or they would field another candidate against her. But at a public meeting on Monday, November 2nd they said she had not stood down and signalled their intention to put a local candidate against her. Campaign secretary Steve North said: “We are making an announcement that we are going to be looking for a candidate to stand against Hazel Blears at the next election. “We issued her with an ultimatum that if she did not stand down by the Halloween deadline, we would put someone up against her. “She emailed the campaign on Friday to tell us that she had no intention of standing down so the campaign begins now.” The group made the call at a meeting last month, which featured journalist-turned-politician Martin Bell.
The Hazel Must Go campaign, a coalition of left-wing activists and residents, was formed in response to the row over MPs expenses this summer. Ms Blears survived a vote of confidence from her local Labour party in June. Monday’s meeting took place outside the former Adelphi Post Office which closed last year. Steve said: “We chose to have the announcement here because we feel it is indicative of Hazel’s failures. “A lot of people thought our campaign was solely about expenses but it is more about Hazel’s voting record.” She voted for a programme of post office closures in Parliament despite saying she would fight against the Adelphi closure.” He continued: “The campaign begins now. “We are looking for a candidate who wants to stand up for the people of Salford. “We’ll be out everywhere campaigning, canvassing and doorknocking.
Find out for yourself how Hazel has voted to comdemn thousands of Post Offices to closure – including several in Salford – Check out her voting record on Post Office Closures (PublicWhip)
Back in September Martin Bell told Salford he hopes the city finds “local heroes” willing to run at the next general election. He confirmed he will stand aside and allow them to come for in a race which he predicted will see Hazel Blears “Challenged – like she has never been challenged before (Videos)”.
1 comment November 7, 2009
Open Letter delivered to Hazel Blears
Campaigners hand-delivered an “Open Letter” to Hazel Blears at her constituency office in Salford this afternoon. In September the Hazel Must Go campaign gave Hazel an ultimatum to step down by the 31st October or face a community challenge.
The letter outlines a 10-point manifesto and an explaination of what the campaign is all about.
Download the Open Letter to Hazel Blears (.doc)
Add comment October 23, 2009
ITV Granada News report from last nights Hazel Must Go! campaign public meeting in Eccles
Martin Bell joins over 80 Salfordians at last night’s Hazel Must Go! campaign public meeting in Eccles.
More soon…
Add comment September 17, 2009
Martin Bell heads to Salford
Former BBC correspondent, Independent MP, anti-corruption champion Martin Bell has announced he will be speaking at a public meeting organised by the Hazel Must GO! campaign.
He will be joined by representatives from dozens of community groups and a representatives from trade unions and local people of all backgrounds. The campaign has been growing from strength to strength since Blears reselection back in June when she faced being disqualified to stand at the next General Election over her involvement in the recent expenses scandal.
During the crunch meeting to decide Blears’ future local people gathered outside Swinton Town Hall in a spontanious protest which received national media attention. The Campaign has since endorsements from Bob Crowe, Sue Bond and Ricky Tomlinson.
The meeting will take place at Salford Link, Chadwick Road in Eccles on Wednesday 16th September 2009 between 7pm and 9pm.
Items for discussion include discussing mounting a fair and democratic, people-led campaign to oust the current yet completely useless MP for Salford and Eccles.
3 comments August 29, 2009
It Seems Labour Aren’t So Sure About Salford…
Add comment August 4, 2009
Save Salford’s Tree of Knowledge
Please follow this link and take a look at the Salford Star article about the Council’s plans to demolish the Salford Tree of Knowledge. It clearly isn’t just Hazel who likes turning her back on her roots. No pun intended!
Take a look at the Salford Star for more info.
Add comment August 4, 2009
Reports from the Hazel Must Go Public Meeting
The first Public Meeting of the Hazel Must Go Campaign last Thursday was a huge success. Over 50 people came along to Pendleton Bowling Club to express their views on why Hazel Blears should no longer be allowed to represent the people of Salford.
The meeting was Chaired by Bernard Brough from the Salford Star, who introduced speakers such as Gary Duke, a long-time campaigner for decent facilities for students at Salford University, David Henry from Salford Youth Council and Leigh Edmenson, cousin of Neil Hill, the Salford housing campaigner who tragically took his own life last year after being blocked from taking his campaign against rent rises to the courts. Leigh’s heartfelt poem about the treatment of her cousin left few dry eyes in the room, and made the point better than any speech could, about the effect ignorance and cold-heartedness can have on people’s lives.
It was an energetic and lively meeting, and as well as the featured speakers all present were given a chance to tell their own stories of lies, hypocrisy and failed promises from Hazel Blears. Those who spoke told of the effect of failed regeneration, post office closures and other cut backs and closures in our communities. We were also joined by representatives from similar campaigns in Wythenshawe and Wigan and would like to thank them for their support.
Many felt that the Campaign should seek to stand a candidate against Hazel at the next General Election. The common consensus was that we should continue to build the campaign thorugh activity before holding a larger meeting in the Autumn where issues like standing a candidate will no doubt be discussed.
It was agreed that the next large public action would be to meet at Salford Party in the Park on Douglas Green on Whit Lane at 12 noon on the 1st August to take round the petitions and encourage residents to put up the “Hazel Must Go” posters in their windows. All are invited to come down and help out.
In the meantime, those who chose to get actively involved will be meeting as a Steering Group this Thursday to make sure that we continue to hold stalls and collect signatures whenever and wherever we can. As was said at the meeting, this is the beginning, not the end of this campaign. We will not be satisfied until we have an MP who generally represents the people of Salford rather than her own selfish interests.
If you would like to get involved please email blearsmustgo@gmail.com or call 07817434240. Thanks to all involved for their hard work. The real campaign starts now!
Steve North,
Hazel Must Go Activist
Below is a report by Steve Kingston of the Salford Star. The magazine has supported our campaign from the beginning.
I’d rather put my poodle up for election than Hazel Blears” declared Victor to much applause “The only thing she’s very good at is the Save Hazel Campaign…”
This set the tone of the evening as people from all over Salford aired their own grievances about the MP who won’t stand down. Rita, a nursery worker, said that so many people don’t know their rights – “I’m here to stand up for them”…
There were people from Langworthy who received almost nothing for their houses, complaining about Hazel’s grand plan for the area – bring in Urban Splash and hand them over £20million to re-do the properties at an unaffordable sale price.
There was David Henry from Salford Youth Council, complaining that the authorities were trying to shut them down as being `undemocratic’…There was Gary Duke, recently sacked from Salford University , who has helped to expose extravagant expenses of the University bosses.
There was Steve North from the Save Our Post Offices campaign which, he said, had Hazel’s backing before she went back to Parliament and did nothing. There were people talking about Hazel’s hypocrisy over the Hope Hospital Maternity ward closure…There were people who had never received replies to letters sent to Hazel. There were people who had their letters to Hazel passed on to the very people they were complaining about. There were people from Wythenshawe and Wigan sharing experience from similar campaigns against their MPs…
But, most poignant, was the poem about Hazel read out by Leigh Edmenson, in memory of her cousin, Neil Hill…
We’ve lost faith, you can’t be trusted,
Discovered secrets, they’re out, you’re busted,
You betrayed your people, your council’s tenants,
To lose your seat must be your penance,
Come on, face your fears Blunder Blears!
Everyone at the meeting agreed that this was just the start…the petitions, the posters, the campaign was well and truly launched. Watch this space.
For Neil
How long do you think you will last?
Now we all know what has passed,
2nd home claims, overnight lodges,
husband’s taxi fares, tax dodges,
Save your crocodile tears, Hazel Blears.
We’ve lost faith, you can’t be trusted,
Discovered secrets, they’re out, you’re busted,
You betrayed your people, your council’s tenants,
To lose your seat must be your penance,
Come on, face your fears Blunder Blears!
Blunders are what you do best,
like what happened with City West,
Your promises were hollow,
It was a bitter pill to swallow,
It will be remembered for years, traitor Blears.
Neil Hill, my cousin, salt of the earth,
A million-and-more of you, he was worth,
He stood up for people and for what was right,
He was a gem, a hero, and full of fair fight,
He stood up to you and what, Hazel did you do?!
The case was a whitewash, he couldn’t speak,
Then you hit him where you knew he was weak,
Excessive court costs you knew he couldn’t pay,
Well this is for Neil, he’ll have his day!
And we’ll all be there to shout. . . .Hazel you’re OUT OUT OUT!
Leigh Edmenson 2009.
The Manchester Evening News also covered the meeting:
“Hazel Must go” campaigners call for grass-root support.
More than 40 people met to launcha grass-roots campaign to oust Salford MP Hazel Blears. Among those at the “Hazel Must Go” meeting was people’s champion Alec McFadden, the TUC officialwho has announced he will stand against the MP at the next geeral election.
Local resisdents, anarchists, socialists and represenatatives from a number of organisations including Salford Youth Council attended the launch at the Pendleton Bowling Club .
Organsiers said the campaign would involve mobilising mass support on te streets of salford and urging residents to put”Hazel Must Go” postersin their windows.
The former minister survived a vote of no confidence…..avoid tax…..paid back money…….etc
The meeting heard speeches by people complaining of unanswered letters, broken promises and a sense of betrayal following the expenses scandal.
Campaigner Ameen Hadi set out ways members of the local community could help. He said”We want people to have a “Hazel Must Go” poster in every window,in every house, in every street. It may mean more meetings, more demos, on marches. We need to think creatively how we can involve everyone.”
Add comment July 22, 2009
First public meeting
Hazel Must Go! Campaign
Public Meeting
Thurs 16th July, 7pm
Pendleton Bowling Club, 13 Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 7DE
Come and join us for the first public meeting of the campaign. We will be discussing what we should do next to unseat Hazel Blears.
2 comments June 22, 2009
Lobby of Salford CLP: Hazel survives for now
Last’s night lobby of the Salford Constituency Labour Party meeting where there was a motion of no confidence in Hazel Blears went off really well. The motion, which could only be voted on by a small committee of Labour members, rather than the whole of the constituency party, was defeated, meaning Hazel Blears survives for now.
It did get the campaign really good coverage though. In the first week of the campaign, we’ve been on most national TV news and all the national newspapers. Its clear that the people of Salford don’t want Hazel as there MP and we can use this launch to make that wish a reality. So join the campaign, collect signatures on the petition and lets keep the pressure up.
Below is a selection of the news coverage of the protest. If you find anymore, email it to blearsmustgo@gmail.com and we can post it up.
BBC News - with a great video of Steve Kingston
BBC North West Tonight - A long report on the build-up to the protest.
Add comment June 19, 2009
