This week 30 years ago: ‘Snooping’ Margaret Hodge interrogates Islington Council officials on who they vote for
Islington Gazette: November 27, 1987 - Credit: Archant
Islington Council leader Margaret Hodge was trying to find out which political party town hall officials were voting for.
Labour’s Cllr Hodge was putting pressure on those earning over £17,000 a year to fill in a “snooper’s charter” form, giving information about their perosonal and financial interests.
Other questions included “are you a Freemason?”, “do you belong to the Townswomen’s Guild?” and “what is your wife/husband’s job?”
Cllr Hodge assured: “It is simply in the interests of good local government that public servants should demonstrate openly any interests they have.”
But opposition Social Democrat leader Cllr David Hyams said: “The staff should stand firm against this snooper’s charter. Margaret Hodge has no right to know whether they are Conservatives, Social Democrats or loony Labour.
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“I don’t care what their politics or outside interests are, as long as they do their job properly.”
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