Racism allegations ‘will not be left unchallenged’

Councillor Dale Mulgrew wants to challenge Councillor Sharif's allegations

The Liberal Democrat party in Rochdale is refuting the allegations of racism made by Councillor Mohammad Sharif in his resignation letter.

Rochdale Online published Councillor Sharif’s resignation letter in which he suggests a series of racial issues within the group.

Today (Tuesday 14 December 2010) we publish a response letter from the acting Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Dale Mulgrew.

Dear Councillor Sharif,

Can I thank you personally for the letter which you sent me yesterday and published on Rochdale Online.

I want to say at the outset that I value the work that you have put in for the citizens of Rochdale regardless of their colour or creed.

It is a matter of great personal regret to me that you have chosen to raise your concerns in the media rather than through the policy and dispute mechanisms both within the group and party.

I also want to challenge some of the comments made in your letter, both, as regards your actions, and that of the Liberal Democrat Group. They are in my view inaccurate, partial and designed to mislead.

You mention in your letter our meeting of the 22 November, which followed a letter of the 15 November signed by you and seven other former members of the group. This letter ultimately has caused the political difficulties of the last few weeks.

At a time when the Council is facing severe pressure on its budgets and people are losing their jobs these are unwelcome and un-necessary distractions.

At our meeting on the 22 November I asked for you to consider how you could provide assurances of your loyalty to the group and a commitment to moving forward. This has not materialised. Since then I have been made aware of your approach to the Labour Party, Conservative Party and the Independent Alliance party.

Clearly this makes it plain that the LibDem group was never really going to be seriously considered by you again.
However you make several very serious unsubstantiated allegations regarding the group and its commitment to the BME community in Rochdale. These I totally refute.

You will be aware that:

(a) Councillor Zulf Ali has been elected Mayor of Rochdale for 2010/2011.

(b) You have occupied a Cabinet position in the Liberal Democrat administration from 2006 -2010 and are currently Chair of the Rochdale Township Grants Committee.

(c) Councillor Shah Wazir was Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group until 2006 when he lost his seat.

(d) Up until the May 2010 elections we had 6 BME Councillors – far more than the other two political parties combined.

Your allegation therefore that we are racist as a party and that five Liberal Democrat Councillors are racist is in my view untrue and without foundation. You made allegations at our meeting on the 22 November but are yet to substantiate them.

However in view of the seriousness of these allegations , which I am not willing to leave unchallenged , I have asked the Chief Executive of Rochdale Council to refer this matter to the Equality Commission. They will be asked to investigate these allegations and you will agree that such an independent investigation will provide a conclusion to this matter once and for all.

Finally you make reference to the reform of the selection procedure for Councillor Candidates.

I note that you were a member of the Rochdale Constituency Party that approved these revised procedures without any disagreement. However, I am also aware that for the last three years there has had to be a regional or local inquiry into the selection procedures operated by you as Chair of the Milkstone and Deeplish branch of the Rochdale party.

The new procedure that has been introduced is in accordance with national party guidelines, and the very reason for bringing this in is to avoid difficulties that have occurred in the past.

Yours sincerely
Councillor Dale Mulgrew
Acting Deputy Leader Liberal Democrat Group

Councillor Mohammad Sharif said he had not seen the letter when contacted by Rochdale Online and therefore chose not to comment.