Right Of Citizens To Complain Of Maladministration

EDM number 322 in 1996-97, proposed by Brian Sedgemore on 06/12/1996.

That this House notes that two residents of Montague Road in Hackney have complained on behalf of over 100 other residents to the Local Government Ombudsman of maladministration by Hackney Council in relation to a local development; believes that the right of local residents to go to the Ombudsman is an essential bulwark of democracy; registers its dismay that Councillor Howard Hyman has threatened the residents with a writ for libel although he is not named in any of the 10 complaints of maladministration and is only involved in one; is concerned that such an hysterical response by Councillor Hyman is reminiscent of the kind of intimidating activity that took place in George Orwell's, 1984; notes that Councillor Hyman asked the Borough Solicitor for private legal advice; believes that the Borough Solicitor would do better spending the council tax payers' time ensuring that senior officers and councillors stop flouting the Council's procedures with impunity rather than giving private legal advice of a nature which suggests that the Borough Solicitor's knowledge of libel laws in England and Wales is sadly deficient; is pleased that the residents have called Councillor Hyman's bluff and that no writ has been issued; and calls on Councillor Hyman to behave responsibly and allow the Ombudsman to take his decisions without fear or favour.

This motion has been signed by a total of 19 MPs.