Which Liberal Democrat is being economical with the truth?

The flag of St George flying at the Town Hall.

Following a complaint to Rochdale Council about the Mayor being 'snubbed' on St George's Day, Lib Dem councillor Jean Ashworth claimed on the Rochdale Online message board there was no snub. She said: “The Leader of the Council Alan Taylor did not refuse to invite the Mayor and there was no snub. Ask for the truth and you will get it.”

However, Adam Power of the Lib Dem office when asked to provide evidence of an invitation to the Mayor said: “I did not send out any invites and I do not have a copy of them.”

The complainant described Councillor Ashworth’s claims as over-confident and misplaced, he said: “Councillor Ashworth should take more care before repeating the lines she is fed by the Lib Dem office, it has become abundantly clear that, despite Lib Dem attempts to suggest otherwise, there was no invitation to the mayor.

Lib Dem Agent David Hennigan persisted in trying to imply an invitation of sorts had been sent, issuing a very carefully worded statement that skirted around the invitation issue and made an attempt to suggest the fault lay with the Mayor's office, it read: “It is not true to suggest that the Mayor’s office was unaware of the raising of the St George’s Flag. I personally, when researching a press release for Paul Rowen, checked if the Mayor’s Office had organised a flag-raising and they said ‘no’.”

Responding to this Mayor Robin Parker’s reaction was: “I'm afraid it is simply an attempt to spin the un-spinnable.

“The Mayor's office does not proactively organise flag raisings but responds to requests for attendance. 

"The pictures of this year and last year show it to be a 'Lib Dem only' occasion and it was only when I read this year's report on Rochdale Online that I realised what had happened and consequently sent in my concerns.

“Neither I nor any other political parties were invited.

“Unlike with other flags, a flag raising ceremony was not essential, as the George Cross flies outside the Town Hall 24/7. No problem though with the symbolic gesture, as long as it is inclusive.

"I therefore made a statement in Council, which concluded that the Chief Executive would discuss the organisation of future events with the three party leaders."