Row breaks out over plans to give two former city councillors civic honours
A row has broken out over a proposal to give two former Liverpool city councillors - including a previous Lord Mayor - civic honours after they left their roles following criticism and controversy.
A full council meeting will be held at Liverpool Town Hall on Wednesday, with proposals for 12 previous councillors to be handed the title of Honorary Alderman in recognition of exceptional service to the council.
Among those on the list are former Labour councillors Malcolm Kennedy and Abdul Qadir. However, this has caused consternation among opposition members after Mr Kennedy and Mr Qadir had to step down from their positions respectively over attendance and conflict of interest issues.
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A proposal has been put forward to amend the nominations made by the Labour group to remove their two former members for consideration. Mr Kennedy who represented Kirkdale from 1998, was criticised for living in Spain since March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began and attending meetings online. He subsequently resigned in October 2021 amid fierce criticism from opponents.
Mr Qadir stepped down in 2023 after an investigation into his reported links to a stalled development scheme in Vauxhall. He left his role as cabinet member for neighbourhoods after it was established he had links to a large stalled development scheme in Vauxhall through the Liverpool-based Vega Group, which owned MV Canal, the subsidiary company behind the scheme.
A spokesperson for the ruling party defended the decision to put forward both men, claiming they “meet the criteria to become alderman of the city due to their long service and significant contributions to public life in the city.” Cllr Alan Gibbons, leader of the Liverpool Independent Group, said “where there have been question marks over a councillor’s record, no such recognition should be afforded.”
Cllr Gibbons said he and his colleagues would oppose the nomination of both men and has since drafted a new motion scrapping their candidacy. He said: “The recognition is for eminent services to the council as past members of the council.
“Eminent is widely viewed as meaning exemplary and standing head and shoulders above others. We believe where there have been question marks over a councillor’s record, no such recognition should be afforded.”
Cllr Gibbons added conferring any award on either man would be “wrong” and bring such an honour into disrepute. His fresh motion also calls on Andrew Lewis, city council chief executive, to review the criteria for the title and to include “more specific detail” on potential disqualification.
In a statement, a Liverpool Labour group spokesperson said: “Both Malcolm and Abdul meet the criteria to become alderman of the city due to their long service and significant contributions to public life in the city. Malcolm was an elected councillor between 1998 and 2021.
“He served as Lord Mayor in 2017, previously he had served as cabinet member for regeneration for seven years. Due to the Covid pandemic, Malcolm was unable to return to the United Kingdom, from Spain, when the country was placed in lockdown.
“During this time, he fulfilled his obligations as a ward councillor, resolved casework, and attended online meetings alongside all other councillors, he then returned to the UK for in person meetings. During this time, he was always very open as to the reasons why he was in Spain.
“He had always been clear that he was moving to Spain permanently at the end of his term of office. When Abdul was elected in 2011, he became the city’s first ever councillor of Yemeni descent.
“Abdul served his community diligently as a long standing and valued councillor for Picton ward, as well as serving as cabinet member for neighbourhoods, before standing down in 2023. As far as the stalled development is concerned, Abdul made an error, for which he apologised and received training.”
Political parties are invited to nominate former Lord Mayors or former councillors with more than 10 years in office to be recommended as Honorary Aldermen or Alderwomen. These nominations must be determined by the city council in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972.
Members must then determine whether the individual has, in the opinion of the authority, rendered eminent services to Liverpool. It is an honourific title with no specific duties.
Among the other nominations put forward by the Labour group for consideration are former Lord Mayors Gary Millar, Roy and Roz Gladden, alongside former members Tony Concepcion, Pam Thomas, Beatrice Fraenkel, Pauline Walton, Sarah Jennings, Nick Crofts and Barbara Mace. It is the nomination of the two former Labour members that have caused opposition members to call for them to be rejected. The ECHO has attempted to contact Mr Qadir and Mr Kennedy for comment.