Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese - readers on this side of the Irwell might remember his dog-in-the-manger rubbishing of the BBC move to Salford Quays - has launched an astonishing attack on Peel Holdings for criticising Labour’s congestion charge.
The astonishing thing is not that he has criticised Peel’s views, but questioned whether they should be entering into the public debate in the first place:
Sir Richard Leese has accused Peel Holdings of `supporting overt political activity, although not declaring so publicly’ over their opposition to the scheme.
This is utter humbug. Peel are entitled to make representations and public pronouncements just the same as any other company or individual. Kellogg’s did so today, and I assume they will be next in front of Sir Richard’s firing squad.
It seems that Sir Richard is only concerned about companies supporting “overt political activity” when they disagree with him. I didn’t see him ranting and raving in the Manchester Evening News when the CEO of Ask Developments waded into the debate - but then Ken Knott was agreeing with him.
Ask are also of course a major donor to the Manchester Labour Party - and if that isn’t “overt political activity”, I don’t know what is!
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