A senior councillor at the “jewel in the crown” of David Cameron’s northern local authorities has been charged with benefit fraud. Nigel Hooley, a whip on Trafford Council, faces seven counts of failing to declare a change in his circumstances in relation to a housing benefit claim.
With the council praised to the rafters by David Cameron for making “the right kinds of cuts” on behalf of the taxpayer, Hooley stands accused of helping himself to some of the proceeds. On a visit to Trafford Cameron praised the council for cutting fewer jobs than nearby Manchester City Council, conveniently ignoring greater deprivation in Manchester.
Strangely, this is not Cllr Tooley’s first brush with the law or suspension from the Conservative group. In 2009 Tooley, who worked as a maths teacher, was arrested on suspicion of possessing child porn. On being cleared of the charges and released from bail he told the press:
“It’s been a very stressful year and I am very glad that the nightmare is over.”
Like Freddy Krueger at Halloween, Cllr Hooley’s “nightmare” is back.
6 Comments
Given that he was cleared of the child porn charges, I think it’s rather cheap of you to bring them up. A particularly transparent attempt at a smear. The benefit fraud’s bad enough, there’s no need to go implying anything further.
I agree with Tom.. more detail on his fraudulent housing benefit claim would suffice. Funny how these shits who say “all benefit claimants are workshy scroungers” have a lot of well off members who claim these benefits when they obviously don’t need them. What about his “change in circumstances”.. that he got caught?
I think it is commendable that PSB chose to illustrate the fact that this man is a proven non-pornograapher of children. When councillors a embroiled in misdeeds i often wonder whether the are also consumer of kiddy porn and on this occasion my concerns have been allayed. This shows a sense of balance from PSB that is all too rare in the mainstream media.
Yes, nothing wrong with pointing out that someone has been cleared of something.
After all one might have had one’s memory jogged by the mention of this crook’s name and though to oneself…. don’t I remember this bloke from some other criminal activity in the past… without remembering that he had been cleared of said activity.
Thieving git.
BTW… Didn’t he sue over this matter which involved him losing his job and not getting it back?
I’m damned sure I would have. Damned pity to do that to an innocent man and not give any redress.
Up in front of the beak on November the 18th on seven counts – couldn’t happen to a nicer person ?
- there are ill advised cases brought on by LAs and the DWP that collapse in Court or Tribunals due to ” pressure ” from on high , some are ” mysteriously ” withdrawn when Solicitors negotiate for the defence ……….
…………however seven counts sounds very serious and the Court would have been booked months in advance and that Council has to pass a certain percentage of success likelihood test to prosecute …
……………………………………………….that sort tend to think they’re not paid enough and ” reward ” themselves ? …..he’s going to need very good advocacy to wriggle out of that [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/13/top-conservative-photographed-with-david-cameron-charged-with-benefit-fraud-115875-23557436/]
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/13/top-conservative-photographed-with-david-cameron
http://www.mirror.co.uk
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[...] 8. Into the top 10 with a very late run is Trafford Borough Council. They’re generally just run-of-the-mill shocking, but news that one of their Tories has been charged with seven counts of benefit fraud. [...]
[...] 8. Trafford Borough Council. They’re generally just run-of-the-mill shocking, but news that one of their Tories has been charged with seven counts of benefit fraud. [...]