Councillor Satvir Kaur Bankruptcy "Lie" Claim Daily Echo Website, 20th May 2023 |
The Labour Leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Satvir Kaur, has told the Daily Echo that:
"Unlike Hampshire County Council we are not facing bankruptcy. To say otherwise is a lie and political opportunism."
As confirmed by local investigative reporters Inside Croydon, when we asked them about Satvir Kaur's claim:
"Funny. That’s what @CroydonLabour leader Tony Newman said in Oct 2020"
Like Councillor Kaur, Tony Newman, the former Labour Leader of Croydon Borough Council in London, also repeatedly denied a financial crisis. Newman shortly after resigned in October 2020, having plunged the Council into bankruptcy, later with the councillors left having to call Government commissioners in. Labour councillors were voted out.
Now Croydon councillors want to put the Council Tax up by 15%! And the Tory Government - with the help of Croydon Labour councillors caving in - is going to let them do it!
Residents are being robbed by Labour and Tory councillors, yet it was no fault of the local residents.
Labour or Tory, same old story? You bet it is!
The Dead Labour Rose of Southampton |
Did you know that Southampton Council is in such a dire financial situation? Labour councillors including the Leader of the Council are in denial, but financial experts have repeatedly warned them.
Labour councillors don't want you to know. So we are telling you.
Did Councillor Kaur know? She should, shouldn't she, in her role?
As well as calling the bankruptcy claims by her own Chief Financial Officer a "lie", Satvir Kaur also denied to the Daily Echo knowing about a report by the External Auditor, Kevin Suter of Ernst and Young. Mr Suter's report issued a warning to councillors that the Council is running out of money, at a public meeting of councillors on 24th April 2023 called the Governance Committee.
Satvir Kaur told the Daily Echo:
"she was 'not aware' of the report".
Yet somehow, the Leader of the Council did not know about this worrying independent auditor's report to councillors. How can that be? She is supposed to be the Leader!
The Council auditor's warning follows another financial expert, the Council's former Chief Financial Officer warning councillors of a lack of money and then quitting the Council in February. A new Chief Financial Officer was appointed by Councillor Kaur and her Conservative opposition leader.
Does it worry you that this is the same person, Mel Creighton, who resigned last year from Liverpool City Council (another Labour Council) amid controversy over financial management? In its report, the Liverpool Echo cited a £16 million energy contract disaster.
Does it worry you that prior to joining Liverpool City Council, Ms Creighton was the Chief Financial Officer at Southampton City Council?
Knowing all of the above, do you have confidence in Labour to run the City's finances? As reported by Southampton Independents, an independent report last year told councillors that the council was not being run properly.
Do you think the Council has spent wisely? As investigated and reported by Southampton Independents, we know that it has not, and has wasted millions if not billions over the last decade.
Residents were shocked and angry when we told them what the Council and its councillors had done. They voted for our Independent candidates in the local elections and General Election, which we were grateful for.
Residents tell us very often that it's another case of Labour or Tory and the same old story. Do you agree?
Are
you happy that the Labour-run Council has put up council tax again this
year, when the cost of living is so high? Are you struggling to pay your bills? Do you get value for money for your council tax? Do you get value for money for your income tax that goes to the Conservative Government?
Contact us at the link here to tell us your views. You can also comment below.
This is why Southampton needs Independent councillors, like it used to have a few years ago.