Annex 82
Letter to Councillor Mustafa Kamal from
Mr Colin Hall, Chairman, Leicester East Constituency Labour Party
I am in receipt of a copy of a letter dated
17 April 2000 signed by yourself, to a "Ms Filkin."
I understand that this is Mrs Elizabeth Filkin, who is the Parliamentary
Standards Commissioner and therefore responsible for investigating
the conduct of Members of Parliament.
The letter contains a number of serious allegations
relating not only to Keith Vaz MP, but also to the Leicester East
CLP and certain officers of that body, both past and present.
As the current Secretary, John Thomas is a subject of these allegations,
it has been agreed that I, as the CLP Chair, should respond to
this matter on the CLP's behalf.
First of all, I must say I am disappointed that
you have chosen to bring the matters to the attention of a third
party, rather than seek to raise them within the channels of the
Party. As far as I am aware, Mrs Filkin has no responsibility
for Labour Party organisation and therefore no powers to act on
many of the matters raised in the letter to her. In any event,
many of the statements contained in the letter are either factually
incorrect or would require the support of substantial documentary
evidence in order to warrant further investigation.
In addition, as you are well aware, the CLP
and many of its members have been the subject of a number of unpleasant
and damaging smear campaigns, from various sources, in recent
years. The CLP has always condemned these campaigns in the strongest
terms and will continue to press for stringent action against
those provide to have engaged in such conduct.
I would therefore be grateful if you could produce,
within seven days of receiving this letter, either detailed evidence
in support of the serious allegations contained in the letter,
or a written statement disassociating yourself entirely from them.
I must advise that unless you respond along
these lines, the CLP will consider ways of taking the matter further,
including possible legal and disciplinary action against yourself.
8 May 2000
|
