Hertsmere Borough Council (No. 2)

EDM number 661 in 1993-94, proposed by Peter Hain on 23/02/1994.

That this House notes with alarm the contents of a confidential memorandum written by Nigel Rix, former land and property manager for Hertsmere District Council naming Conservative Council leader Michael Byrne at the centre of irregularities in property dealings worth ú1 million; notes the memorandum discloses that senior council officials were involved in meetings with Councillor Byrne, who urged that Rialto Homes be allowed to join the shortlist of second round tenders even though their initial bid for ú1,700,000 was not amongst the top six; further notes the same memorandum reveals that in August of 1993 Councillor Byrne engaged in further advocacy on behalf of a Rialto subsidiary, Bayfordbury Estates, who had bid ú306,000 for land which had attracted a best bid of ú430,000 and that Councillor Byrne then indicated that Bayfordbury would increase its bid to ú450,000 if Hertsmere would allow 15 rather than 11 dwellings on the site; believes this case demonstrates the need for legislation to protect whistle-blowers; and urges the Right honourable Member for Sutton Coldfield, as Tory Party Chairman, to make clear that Back to Basics does not mean back to backhanders by instituting an urgent internal inquiry into the dodgy dealings of Tory councillors on Hertsmere Borough Council.

This motion has been signed by a total of 31 MPs.