Home Secretary admits shocking lies over Southwark's crime record

2.20.00pm GMT Wed 22nd Mar 2006

The Liberal Democrats have branded Labour's Home Secretary a "disgrace" after he admitted that his attack on the council's record on crime and anti-social behaviour was politically motivated and made with no regard for the facts.

In a letter to Lib Dem council leader, Cllr Nick Stanton, Charles Clarke states that his front-page claims in the local press that Southwark is "soft" on crime were not based on any factual information, but on his view of the Liberal Democrats in Westminster.

This shocking revelation has also come at a time when Charles Clarke has failed to answer parliamentary questions on the issue from local Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes for nearly four months.

On 1st December Mr Hughes asked the Home Secretary whether he consulted the Home Office's anti-social behaviour unit, Southwark police or the council before making the attack on Southwark in the press. Despite repeated calls, and a second question, the Home Secretary has failed to reply.

Cllr Stanton is now expecting the Home Secretary to apologise to Southwark's police, community wardens and residents. Cllr Stanton said:

"It is an absolute disgrace that Charles Clarke has abused his position as Home Secretary to attack Southwark with politically motivated lies."

"By ignoring the truth about how well Southwark is performing, he has actually increased the fear of crime in Southwark, demotivated our front line staff, and jeopardised the excellent relationship with No.10 and the Home Office that we have built up over the last four years."

"Clarke should be very ashamed of himself. The fact that he still hasn't answered Simon Hughes' parliamentary question after nearly 4 months suggests that he knows he is in the wrong. I just hope he has the decency to apologise to our local police officers, community wardens and residents."

"Now that he has admitted he was wrong, I also hope the local Labour party can stop using his lies to attack not only us, but our extremely hard working officers and wardens."