Two formal complaints have today been lodged with Tendring District Council following the allegations made against Labour councillors by the Conservative leader of the council, Cllr Neil Stock, alleging computer hacking.
Cllr Garry Calver who was named by Cllr Stock in his statement to the council has submitted a complaint in his own name while the leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Ivan Henderson, has lodged a complaint on behalf of the remaining members of the group.
At the council meeting of 3rd July, in reference to an e-mail, Cllr Stock stated,
‘It’s been inappropriately and illegally obtained. I have to assume from all I know of it that either yourself, Cllr Calver, or someone acting on behalf of the Labour Group has been hacking Conservative Group e-mails.’
Garry Calver has repeatedly asked Cllr Stock to either provide his evidence for this very serious allegation or to withdraw it but instead he has chosen to repeat and, indeed, extend the allegation, even after an internal TDC investigation confirmed that there had been no breach of TDC systems.
Cllr Garry Calver says
“The allegation made by Cllr Stock is entirely untrue and he cannot be allowed to smear the reputation of other councillors in such a manner without being held to account for his actions. This man is the leader of the council and should be setting an example in terms of behaviour.”
The Labour Group has been in correspondence with the chief executive of TDC, Ian Davidson, and Cllr Stock since Cllr Stock made his allegation and finally sought advice when it became clear that Cllr Stock was not prepared to withdraw his allegation.
Leader of the Labour Group, Ivan Henderson, says
“Cllr Stock has left us with no choice but to lodge formal complaints. He has continued to make the allegation which is completely untrue and, to be honest, extremely distasteful. Garry Calver is totally blind and to accuse him of computer hacking is beyond belief. It does nothing to promote the reputation of the council.”
For further information please contact
Garry Calver on 01255 551940
Ivan Henderson on 07889 367822
‘Complaint lodge over email hacking allegations’ East Anglian Daily Times
‘Essex voters hacked off with scheming Tories’ – Daily Mirror
‘Hacking Case Complain Thrown Out’ – East Anglian Daily Times