Paul Flowers arrested

Paul Flowers

Paul Flowers, the Methodist minister and former Rochdale councillor embroiled in a drugs and rent boy scandal, has been arrested by West Yorkshire police in connection with an investigation into the supply of drugs.

The 63-year-old was arrested late on Thursday evening and taken to a police station in West Yorkshire after he was filmed handing over cash to buy drugs.

West Yorkshire police would not identify the individual arrested, but said: "Late yesterday evening [21 November] officers from West Yorkshire police arrested a 63-year-old man in the Merseyside area in connection with an ongoing drug supply investigation. He has been taken to a police station in West Yorkshire where detectives will continue their inquiries."

Following the revelations he was suspended from both the Methodist Church, where he was a minister in Bradford, and the Labour Party.

The chancellor has confirmed an independent inquiry into Mr Flowers.

He left his position as Chairman of the Co-operative Bank amid concerns about his competence.

The Methodist Church has said it offered "pastoral care" for Mr Flowers, who is indefinitely suspended as a minister.

Assistant general secretary Rev Gareth Powell told the BBC: "Inevitably, it's regrettable when the allegations made against one minister then tarnish the extremely good and honourable work undertaken by all of our ministers."

"Certainly the actions that are now under public scrutiny inevitably raise a question about the role of the church."

It emerged this week that Mr Flowers resigned from running drugs charity Lifeline in 2004 after allegedly lodging false expenses claims.

According to Thursday's Daily Mail, the figure involved was £150,000.

The Charity Commission said it had received a complaint at the time but had no evidence that Mr Flowers "acted in bad faith or fraudulently".

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/83728/former-local-councillor-and-methodist-minister-filmed-buying-crystal-meth-and-cocaine