Former mayor of Liverpool among 12 charged as part of corruption probe

Former mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson is one of 12 people charged as part of an investigation into council corruption.

The 67-year-old was charged along with Derek Hatton, 77, who was deputy leader of Liverpool City Council in the 1980s, and a former director and assistant director at the local authority.

Anderson, who was first arrested in December 2020, has been charged with bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, Merseyside Police said on Friday.

In a statement posted on social media site X, he said: “I am innocent of charges and will fight to clear my name.”

Anderson, of Knotty Ash, Liverpool, was elected mayor of the city from the time the role was created in 2012 until 2021, when he did not stand for re-election after his suspension by the Labour Party.

He worked as a social worker before taking up the role and in 2016 stood to become the Labour nomination for metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, but was beaten by the then Walton MP Steve Rotheram, who currently holds the post.

His son David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, is charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, police said.

Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, Liverpool, who was part of Labour’s militant faction in the 1980s, has been charged with bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office.

His wife Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, has been charged with one count of misconduct in a public office.

Andrew Barr, formerly the council’s assistant director of highways and planning, 51, of Ainsdale, Merseyside, is charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and bribery.

The council’s former head of regeneration Nick Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool, has been charged with two counts of bribery.

Also charged are Phillipa Cook, 49, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool, who faces two counts of bribery, and Alex Croft, 29, of Aughton, Lancashire, who is charged with one count of bribery.

Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby; Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village; Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton; and James Shalliker, 38, of Downholland, Lancashire, are all charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.

The Flanagan brothers founded construction business the Flanagan Group.

Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: “The CPS has reviewed a full file of evidence from Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation team to charge 12 people with 12 offences related to bribery and misconduct in public office.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

After Anderson’s arrest a Government inspection was ordered and commissioners were appointed to oversee some functions within the authority in June 2021, with services being handed back to the council last year.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Liverpool City Council has actively supported this police investigation and will continue to co-operate as required.

“Since 2020, the council has been transformed under new leadership, including the successful conclusion of a period of government intervention, with significant improvements in governance and performance. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”