Council funds rugby club: Labour’s financial connections.
Salford Council have given a loan of £350,000 to Salford City Reds to pay for the day-to-day running of the club (see: here). The council are also borrowing £20m to pay for a stadium for the Reds. Cllr. John Merry, Labour leader of Salford Council said: “The club puts a lot back into our communities and works tirelessly with young people and schools and we will support it like any other organisation that benefits the city in such a way” (from Crains).
It’s true, the club does put a lot back into local communities: it’s also run by its chair John Wilkinson who has been a prominent donor to, and supporter of, the Labour Party in the city. Wilkinson is also involved in property development across Salford. Remembering this fact prompted me to look at the business interests of some of our local MP Hazel Blears’s other donors.
They are:
- Isalamic multimillionaire Mahmoud Khayami, who is a major donor to the United Learning Trust (ULT), which just happens to run Salford City Academy.
- Jim Ramsbottom, millionaire Salford bookmaker and Manchester property developer.
- Anthony Bailey, A PR guru with connections to Saudi Royalty, Syria, and the Vatican. Bailey also happens to be a governor on the United Learning Trust mentioned above.
- Peninsula Business Services, which is jointly owned by Peter Done and his brother Fred – the founder and chairman of betting shops chain Betfred.
- Wilkinson Star, owned by Salford property developer and chair of Salford City Reds John Wilkinson.
- Lorian Properties Ltd, a company owned by North West property developer Brian Scowcroft
- B M Creative Management Ltd, owned by multi-millionaire media mogul and Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli
So, Hazel’s campaigns are funded by gambling, property development, and media interests, plus those involved in the City Academies project in Salford.
I’m sure that these facts are unconnected with Salford Labour council’s backing for big development projects such as the Worsley Race Course; their bid for a super casino and new stadium; and their enthusiastic backing of city academies.
Isn’t it time we cleaned up politics and political parties stepped away from vested interests? Do you trust Salford’s Labour cabinet to make huge decisions about developments and education in the city without remembering those who finance their campaigns?