Bev Craig has been elected as the new leader of Manchester City Council, becoming the local authority's first female chief. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. has learned. Visit our website at www.manchester.gov.uk Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A massive fraud scheme spanning some three years at the Manchester Municipal Corporation has this afternoon resulted in the conviction of 5 persons including former local government officials. But internal critics began to find more of a voice two years ago, against a background of the Arab spring, conservative Muslim campaigns and democracy movements in other countries, allied to widespread use of the internet. The council is controlled by the Labour Party and led by Bev Craig. He was knighted in 2006, a year before Manchester International Festival was established to showcase new works by artists from across the world. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Extent of Manchester City's corruption revealed in the full UEFA judgement - Etihad renegotiated deal four times despite being tied to club for 10 years Posted by Biscan's Boots 2 years ago. In huge whiteletters on a sky blue background, it says: "MANCHESTER THANKS YOU, SHEIKH MANSOUR. The wider criminal investigation is ongoing with Liverpool braced for further revelations. Kavanagh, his former regeneration chief, has said he had always acted within the rules and would defend his innocence. 139. Professor Munroe says hes confident that todays verdict will have a positive impact on Jamaicas standing on the Corruption Perception Index. GB has now carried out and completed its own probe, in line with the ongoing police and council investigation, the M.E.N. Now I finally have relief from endometriosis', Hannah Bingham spent years suffering from the condition, Price stamps to rise next month - pushing first class above 1, Gogglebox star Ellie reveals gender of her baby in sweet scenes, The mum-to-be is expecting her first child, Police searching for wanted teen over a 'serious assault', Calum McManus, 18, is being sought over an alleged attack in Heywood yesterday, 'The man was a legend' - Tributes paid to man who died after being hit by digger at industrial estate, Hundreds of people have paid tribute to John Graveson on Facebook following the tragedy, Shoppers flock to buy 2.50 'game changing' item that solves G, Lidl and Aldi pot hoarding problem, The item is one of many ways you can upcycle and reuse your old dessert ramekins, Cody Gakpo opens up on Manchester United ahead of Liverpool FC clash. Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers. A building firm is helping with a council corruption probe following the suspension of a town hall boss. In a series of reports, HRW has highlighted exploitative practices, including burdensome recruitment fees charged to workers before they arrive, low pay of around $8 a day in one of the world's richest countries, the prevailing system of being tied to one employer, and the prohibition on forming a union or striking for better terms. On 10 June 2012, another Emirati, Saud Kulaib, tweeted that Suweidi was "being exposed to severe torture under the supervision of a high official". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. And secondly, that City under a scheme called Project Longbow set up a shell company to pay players for image rights, saving millions more from the wage bill. Read about our approach to external linking. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said his Labour colleague was "an inspiration" who had "shown incredible leadership" and always "put Manchester first". The issue is also being considered by the police. The people of Liverpool deserve better we might not like our politicians but we need to be able to trust them, he said on Friday. The City Council's constitution describes the four basic elements through which the council operates: the Council, the Executive, Overview and Scrutiny, and the Committees. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Emirati population, which numbers around one million, are still considered by commentators to be largely content, particularly given the country's stability in a Middle East in turmoil and civil war elsewhere. He became leader in May 1996, a month before the IRA planted a huge bomb outside the Manchester Arndale shopping centre, which was timed to coincide with the Euro 96 football tournament. The leader of Manchester City Council has announced that he will step down after 25 years in the role. Quoting Zayed's vision of a parliamentary system for "a society liberated from fear," the petition asked for greater democracy, by: "Electing all the members of the Federal Supreme Council by all citizens in the same manner that is approached in the democratic countries around the world." Professor Trevor Munroe, Anti-corruption Activist and Executive Director of the National Integrity Action, speaking this afternoon with Nationwide News. Sign up to the MySalford newsletter to keep up with what's happening in and around the city. stream He was also found guilty of two other counts. "There is insufficient evidence that a multiparty system works in the Arab world," Gargashsaid. La Liga's condemnation of City and PSG will therefore be viewed in that context. The. A senior town hall manager has been suspended amid claims of corruption. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. In May 2017, he was appointed as deputy mayor of Greater Manchester under the leadership of Mr Burnham. They have grown accustomed to the suggestion that owner Sheikh Mansour's spending spree over the past 10 years has devalued their on-field achievements and enabled them to buy success. Gargash explained that the UAE regime does not believe in democracy, with political parties, arguing they descend into tribal division and sectarianism. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Trusted News Discovery Since 2008. A number of other staff members have since come forward with details. Others however, insist that if clubs sign up to play in Uefa's tournaments, then they should abide by the rules, and that a failure to do so damages the fundamental sense of fair play on which sport is meant to depend. The five are expected to be sentenced on Monday, July 27. The city established the task force to plan the expenditure of $50 million in federal CARES Act money awarded to Charlotte as a result of the pandemic. This is being done in line with the councils standard procedures. Deputy Head of Audit & Risk Management. In December, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute issued a statement saying it was "deeply concerned by the worsening situation for human rights lawyers in the UAE." "The mistreatment described in the letters is consistent with other allegations of torture at UAE state security facilities," the statement said, "and indicates that torture is a systematic practice at these facilities". Mr Burke refused to comment on the allegations. Bribery and campaign finance violations are central to the claims. Only last month HMRC revealed that it was investigating the tax payments of 171 players, 44 clubs and 31 agents. Many therefore, will be dismissing the current scrutiny - and the criticism it has sparked - as the latest manifestation of jealousy and hypocrisy, and some will no doubt have jeered the Champions League anthem even louder than usual in defiance. Welcome to our Facebook page. Its seismic, said one town hall source. They are thought to include the 14m Bow Street construction scheme in Moss Side and a 6m Building Schools for the Future project at Southern Cross primary school in Chorlton. into City's finances, threatening to lodge a complaint with the EU competition authorities. A report to the Labour-run council said while government funding for 2022/23 was . Theyre toxic, even today. Last updated on 7 November 20187 November 2018.From the section Football. Questions were raised over Mr Burkes dealings with subcontractors working for GB on the schemes, which are thought to include the 14m Bowes Street scheme in Moss Side. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. How all this strife and struggle over the rulers by birth of a complex, faraway country ended up washing into the fabric of Manchester City is a story of our times. The fifth guilty verdict was handed down in relation to Elliots wife, Tasha-Gaye. Immediately after his sentence Mansoor, along with the other petitioners, received a presidential pardon. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? A Liverpool Echo poll of thousands of their readers found that 69% intended to change their vote in the impending council and mayoral elections. While being found not guilty in relation to the ownership of his home, Elliot was found guilty of four other counts of possession of criminal property. Manchester City is run by Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman, a senior Abu Dhabi government and business figure, who works principally for Sheikh Mohammed. HRW's previous concerns have centred on low pay and grim conditions for the people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere brought to the UAE to build its prestige buildings, and work in domestic service. Seven Logan City Councillors and former mayor Luke Smith had all been charged by Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) with fraud relating to former council chief executive Sharon . Elliot and his co-conspirators Harris and Roberts were also found guilty of an act of corruption. Federal corruption cases. That their club is being used as a form of 'soft-power', to improve the image of a repressive regime in the United Arab Emirates that continues to be accused of human rights abuses. Amnesty and HRW said "local activists believe a forced confession from Suweidi forms the basis of the prosecution's case in the trial". As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The City Council's constitution describes the four basic elements through which the council operates: the Council, the Executive, Overview and Scrutiny, and the Committees. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The major northern football clubs have flourished on pay TV after so much industry collapsed around them but the Premier League's economics are such that clubs, Arsenal in the Emirates Stadium apart, struggle to compete against Manchester United's dominant wealth without a billionaire's backing. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party. Amnesty and HRW denounced the "mass trial of 94 government critics", arguing that the convictions were: "Based on a fundamentally unfair trial probably violated the right of free association was marred by the denial of legal assistance during pretrial incommunicado detention, and allegations of torture. In 2022, Tauna copped the Press Association of Jamaica 2021 Opinion Journalist of the Year award. HRW argues that is not matched by the reality and points to continuing reports of construction workers being deported after going on strike over low pay and dreadful working conditions on projects in the UAE. Former Councilmen Jose Huizar and Mark Ridley-Thomas face criminal charges for racketeering and bribery, respectively. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is understood that the allegations involve multi-million pound building projects for the city. Back then, Labour managed to hold on to its control of the council partly by expelling Militant members but today the public mood seems more perilous. As they include middle-aged, educated people, they say it is ridiculous to accuse them of believing they could overthrow the regime, given the wealth,might and security apparatus of the UAE. It is led by Sir Richard Leese. A broader organizational review is needed; an introspection that will . The allegations against Mr Burke were brought to light by a town hall whistleblower. As reported in the M.E.N. Sir Richard Leese: Manchester City Council boss to quit after 25 years 8 September 2021 Getty Images Sir Richard Leese was elected to the city council in 1984 The leader of Manchester City. Town Hall Extension, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA. One News Page. What is not yet fully known is how much of this Uefa was already aware of, and how much it really cares. Mr Burnham said Greater Manchester was "immeasurably stronger" and Sir Richard had "been at the heart of that". Read about our approach to external linking. "When a prospective takeover is from overseas we confirm that those involved are legally permitted to invest in this country," a Premier League spokesman said, "and, when appropriate, seek the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.". last month, the accusations which have also been referred to police are understood to involve multi-million pound building projects contracted to the GB Group by the council. Then, on Thursday, Alexander Sittenfeld became the third member of the City Council charged with corruption when he was arrested at home and charged with taking $40,000 in bribes while. Nor will claims - however concerning - that executives ignored internal warnings about the reputational risk of striking a sponsorship deal with a Dubai-based construction company accused of mistreating migrant workers, and that a director sought to delay a response to a Freedom of Information request from a respected human rights expert over a commercial deal with the city council, have spoiled the fans' enjoyment of yet another convincing victory. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Whether it is top clubs jostling for a bigger share of TV money, La Liga staging matches overseas, a proposed new Saudi-backed club World Cup, or the threat of a breakaway European Super League, or City apparently flouting FFP, the rules and the established order, seems to be under threat. It is believed questions were raised over Mr Burkes dealings with subcontractors. Whereas Manchester became the world's first industrial city in the 1800s, Abu Dhabi did not have a paved road until 1961, when its deep reserves of oil began to be exploited. This Anti Fraud and Corruption policy describes our overall approach to . It is understood that questions have been raised over Mr Burke's dealings with subcontractors working on the projects which were both contracted to a firm called GB Building Solutions. t was a devastating indictment of one of Britains most powerful councils: a rotten culture of dubious contracts and backroom bullying, where staff were silenced and official records dumped in skips. The UAE authorities have maintained there was due process and a fair trial. LONDON (AP) - Manchester City is now a tainted champion. In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Sir Richard said he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren, adding: "I don't want to do 60-hour weeks and 12-hour days.". xZ[o\~_q[`$6A ?$E iWRbi%[y_9+N6 xx|s#L}tYlNWW3T0}q=;q^8^aV9[vs!`JrB],ui]}Xj3*u\_FanE?tj=PL>=-Pe$fLNk4dr)|6c|FmH&zmh)R9OL/KaOO| The political fallout, however, may only just have begun. He has been suspended while a full investigation is carried out. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. No. We could be completely cut out, said one source. Man United were heavily linked with a move for Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo prior to his move to Liverpool in January. Test yourself with these 12 questions, Do you know your local leaders from your Manchester suburbs? Manchester suffered catastrophically in the 1980s from the collapse of its industry, with 150,000 jobs lost, particularly in the east of the city, which has never recovered. At the first court hearing on 4 March 2013 in Abu Dhabi, Amnesty and HRW reported that several defendants told the judge they had been "seriously ill-treated during months in detention". (two-thirds of which was suspended and avoided) along with restrictions on their European squad and incoming transfers, that the club were found to have breached the FFP rules. Something went wrong, please try again later. Anderson, the former mayor, has denied the allegations against him and suggested this week that they were the result of jealousy. He and I have been there together at difficult moments.". in 2016 after the European Commission ruled that preferential loans to the clubs and deals on tax and property constituted illegal government help. Eighteen months ago, the Independent newspaper claimed that City was making millions of pounds from image rights deals, three years after saying they were forfeiting that income to secure a lump sum to help comply with the FFP rules. Audit and Risk Management. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It is unlikely that many of the Manchester City fans who attended the club's match against Shakhtar Donetsk will have been too concerned about a third day of revelations and leaked emails published by German news magazine Der Spiegel. In this meeting, of a desperate UK economy with Abu Dhabi's fortunes, there is a limit to the UK government's disapproval over allegations of torture and flaws in the UAE legal system. "Therefore anyone can resort to the public authorities to report assault, request protection, or claim compensation and ensure that any person committing any offence or felony is punished under law.". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Its a city that was standing on the world stage. The UAE authorities argue it was not the petition itself that led to those posting it being arrested but the continued criticism with which they followed it up. Judge Grainger ruled today that Elliot, Harris and Roberts had all knowingly participated in the scheme. Mubarak is the chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, a strategic government body responsible for advising on Abu Dhabi's international image. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The accounts tallied with previous allegations of torture that HRW had reported in September, along with the alleged disappearance of one of the 94, Ahmed alSuweidi. He has never stood for office before, and is standing as an independent candidate, but even his rivals think he stands a good chance. "His oversight of the transformation of our city - in so many different ways - leaves a huge and powerful legacy that will be unmatched for a very, very long time. A senior town hall manager has been suspended amid claims of corruption. If they are authentic - (and Der Spiegel insist that their source - purportedly the founder of the Football Leaks whistleblower website - has assured them that he did not hack or steal the documents) - then many will inevitably conclude that they do not reflect well on the club, and raise serious questions over its integrity and its respect for the rules. Uefa is now under mounting pressure to act again and demonstrate that such apparent disregard for its rules cannot be tolerated. achieving an annual profit in each of the past four years of accounts, developing a respected youth system, and regenerating parts of east Manchester. In the meantime, anti-corruption activist and Executive Director of the National Integrity Action, NIA, Professor Trevor Munroe, is hailing the ruling. Others however, may not find it quite so easy to excuse a controversy that is rapidly becoming one of the most serious in the decade of Abu-Dhabi ownership at City, and which threatens to cast a shadow over the dominant force in English football. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. We have known since 2014, when City reluctantly accepted a settlement with Uefa that included a 49m fine (two-thirds of which was suspended and avoided) along with restrictions on their European. Quite the opposite. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Now I finally have relief from endometriosis', Police searching for wanted teen over a 'serious assault', Heywood: Man wanted on suspicion of violent crimes, Water company issues update after pipe bursts in Bolton, Relaunch of Sing! He did not respond when contacted by the M.E.N but is said to be challenging the decision. Manchester council has launched an investigation and called in the police after allegations were made against its head of corporate technical services, Terry Burke. A building firm is helping with a council corruption probe following the suspension of a town hall boss. They described prolonged solitary confinement, hooding, sleep deprivation and being subjected to extremes of temperatures. You side with the Tories, youve slept with the devil. Since then, Sir Richard has also been involved in the response to the coronavirus pandemic and was a critic of the government's handling of regional lockdowns last autumn. "The UAE judicial system ensures that the rule of law prevails and that no person is above the law," the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. "All men are born free, equal and independent of each other," Hunt had declared before the forces charged. No arrests have been made and officers are working closely with Manchester council.. Hatton has not commented on his arrest. An internal audit picked up irregularities and an investigation was immediately launched. They argue that the super-capitalist development has been done without sufficient consultation and is a departure too far from traditional Muslim values, that the ruling family is notaccountable for how the country's money is spent, and that freedom is too limited. Now I finally have relief from endometriosis', Hannah Bingham spent years suffering from the condition, Price stamps to rise next month - pushing first class above 1, Gogglebox star Ellie reveals gender of her baby in sweet scenes, The mum-to-be is expecting her first child, Police searching for wanted teen over a 'serious assault', Calum McManus, 18, is being sought over an alleged attack in Heywood yesterday, 'The man was a legend' - Tributes paid to man who died after being hit by digger at industrial estate, Hundreds of people have paid tribute to John Graveson on Facebook following the tragedy, Shoppers flock to buy 2.50 'game changing' item that solves G, Lidl and Aldi pot hoarding problem, The item is one of many ways you can upcycle and reuse your old dessert ramekins, Cody Gakpo opens up on Manchester United ahead of Liverpool FC clash. Football's complex balance of power, politics and money may be approaching a tipping point. The British barrister Baroness Kennedy, co-chair of IBAHRI, said: "Disturbing reports of an increasing catalogue of detention, deportation, intimidation and harassment of lawyers by the UAE authorities is creating a climate of fear among the legal profession seriously undermining the rule of law in the country.". Fernandinho, 30m from Shakhtar Donetsk, Jess Navas, 15m from Sevilla, Stevan Jovetic, 22m from Fiorentina and Alvaro Negredo, 20m, also from Sevilla, have been assembled to renew Sheikh Mansour's intentions for City to achieve Premier League and European success. 65,550 - 70,785 per annum. Announcing his resignation, he said his "commitment to the city and the city region remains undiminished". 2023 BBC. Forty-seven councillors got suspended over Militant we could lose 60.. It was in relation to allegations that Elliott, McLean and Sibblies, over a 3-year period between 2013 and 2016, conspired to process fraudulent cheques, which were then withdrawn from the municipal corporations bank account. HRW expressed concerns that the families of most of those arrested did not know where they were for months, and warned there is a close relationship between prisoners held incommunicado and mistreatment. The 48-year-old outlined he had concerns upon Casemiro's arrival but the Man United ace has since quelled his fears. An engineer who studied at the University of Colorado and lived in the US for seven years, when Mansoor returned to his native UAE he found itslack of democracy and freedom of speech stifling. GB was not and still is not implicated in Terry Burkes suspension and we have worked with Manchester council to help with their enquiries and have responded in great detail to every question asked by their audit committee.. Mr Burke, from Worsley, Salford, was suspended from his post at the start of July. Man, 37, found dead inside car as police cordon off area near cemetery, Eye witnesses described seeing a heavy police and emergency service response in the area, 'I left school in Salford at 16 - now I'm a millionaire with a Lamborghini and a Cheshire mansion', 'I get called the queen of aesthetics - that's because I am', Hundreds flock to be 'part of history' as new 53million road which residents have campaigned for decades opens, You'll have to wait a little while longer to drive down it though, The one-off DWP payments that will arrive in March, The government is offering several forms of support for struggling households amid the cost of living crisis, Real life of ITV Coronation Street's Paul Foreman actor Peter Ash - Emmerdale star relation, rarely seen girlfriend, and first big role with Corrie co-star, Peter started regularly appearing in the ITV soap in January 2019 when Paul arrived in Weatherfield looking for his sister, Gemma, 'No one told me it wasn't normal to be hospitalised for period pains. Federal investigators have implicated much of Detroit's city hall in a corruption probe involving council members and their staffs. There is absolutely no suggestion that GB Building Solutions are complicit in any way. CINCINNATI Just hours after a third member of Cincinnati City Council was arrested Thursday by federal agents on public corruption charges in a single year, Mayor John Cranley said it's time . Many of the council's staff are based at Manchester Town Hall . What Der Spiegel's revelations claim to have shown for the first time however is how it was done, and the extent of the alleged deception. This despite the club earning praise for the way it has invested 1.45bn of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth since. An internal auditing process carried out by the council then picked up irregularities. Elliot was also found guilty of five other counts of conspiracy to defraud. Man, 37, found dead inside car as police cordon off area near cemetery, Eye witnesses described seeing a heavy police and emergency service response in the area, 'I left school in Salford at 16 - now I'm a millionaire with a Lamborghini and a Cheshire mansion', 'I get called the queen of aesthetics - that's because I am', Hundreds flock to be 'part of history' as new 53million road which residents have campaigned for decades opens, You'll have to wait a little while longer to drive down it though, The one-off DWP payments that will arrive in March, The government is offering several forms of support for struggling households amid the cost of living crisis, Real life of ITV Coronation Street's Paul Foreman actor Peter Ash - Emmerdale star relation, rarely seen girlfriend, and first big role with Corrie co-star, Peter started regularly appearing in the ITV soap in January 2019 when Paul arrived in Weatherfield looking for his sister, Gemma, 'No one told me it wasn't normal to be hospitalised for period pains.