Councillor Mullaney cleared again by Standards Board

May 16 2008

Birmingham city councillor Martin Mullaney has been cleared of pursuing a "vindictive" campaign against a constituent.

The Standards Board for England dismissed allegations by Safdar Zaman, owner of the former Mosley tram depot offices, that Coun Mullaney (Lib Dem Moseley & Kings Heath) issued false and inaccurate statements about the state of the listed building and published libellous remarks on the internet.

It was the second clash this year between Mr Zaman and Coun Mullaney.

At an earlier hearing the council Standards Committee found Coun Mullaney guilty of behaving disrespectfully to Mr Zaman when making a video film of the former tram depot offices. Coun Mullaney is appealing against the committee’s decision that he should apologise to Mr Zaman or face a one-month suspension from the council.

The Standards Board said Mr Zaman’s latest complaint, that Coun Mullaney had continued to pursue a campaign a against him by making "vindictive and personal attacks" was without foundation.

In a ruling, the board said: "It is not considered that any of the information posted by Coun Mullaney is of a nature that can reasonably be viewed as a furious and personal attack as suggested by the complainant.

"Whilst the various comments and articles express strongly held views, it is considered what personal criticism there is of the complainant within them is muted, and no threatening or derogatory language is used."

Coun Mullaney had been legitimately expressing his view on a matter of increasing local contention, the board found.