Burnley BNP councillor cleared by standards board (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley BNP councillor cleared by standards board

11:59am Thursday 10th September 2009 in

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A BURNLEY councillor has been cleared by a standards board inquiry after a flare-up at a town hall meeting.

Coun Derek Dawson, a British National Party representative for Gannow ward, was accused of behaving ‘aggressively and unpleasantly’ towards two members of the public during and after the gathering.

But after consideration by Burnley council’s monitoring officer, it has been decided that Coun Dawson did not fail to comply with the members’ code of conduct and no further action should be taken.

This is the BNP councillor’s second acquittals by standards investigators during his four year-tenure.

In 2007, he was accused of filming a colleague singing racist songs outside the office of Burnley-born Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik.

An inquiry concluded that Coun Dawson should not face further action over the stunt, footage of which was later released on the BNP’s website, as he was acting in a private capacity, rather than an elected representative.

More recently Coun Dawson has been in trouble due to an insurance claim made after an alleged accident at a friend’s home, which left him with a fractured tibia and ankle.

In the latest incident, Coun Dawson was reported to Burnley council’s standards committee by Coun Justin Birtwistle, scrutiny committee chairman, in July.

Before a full hearing could take place, the matter was considered and rejected by a sub-committee, said monitoring officer David Wilcock.