Knowsley council take note, it's called freedom of speech
One-party state Knowsley council has lost an employment tribunal for sacking a careers advisor who dared to speak to the press.
Kevin Robinson agreed to do an television interview about the long-awaited regeneration of Kirkby back in April 2011.
The 65-year-old said he made the comments - about a lack of good quality jobs and the number of empty shops in the town - in a personal capacity.
But Knowsley council chiefs immediately suspended him and he was dismissed for gross misconduct in March 2012.
This is not a case of an employee who has secretly leaked documents or information.
He is a man walking down the street, asked for an opinion by a TV reporter, and gives his honest view.
The council said: "We do not believe it is appropriate for a council officer whose job is to help and encourage local people into work to publicly criticise efforts to create jobs in the borough."
Really? It's not like he was the chief executive or a senior ranking official. He is entitled to his view and his is entitled to express it, no one is going to think he is speaking for the council corporately.
When you have one party in total control (Labour has all the council seats), perhaps it should not be a surprise that a difference of opinion is not tolerated.
Maybe the council should spend more time worrying about the state of education in Knowsley than what it's employees think.
You can read the full article about Mr Robinson's case HERE.
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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From Toby Parrish via Dowd & Merseytravel to Daft Arrest http://inagist.com/all/304166401483108352/ someone need to put councils in their place once and for all. It only when the concentrate on running their mandate rather than playing banana republic will we get anywhere.
Labour are the anti-UK party. If Mr Robinson were black or a Muslim they would not have dared sack him.
Who do knowsley council think they are!! When you are employed by them they think they own you, wake up you pay people for their time they work with you.what people do in there own time is nothing to do with the council after the working hours.
They think they are like big brother!! I wish Kevin Robinson well and hope he takes Knowsley council for all he can get.