“I Didn’t Expect the Adjudication Panel”

The current Islington case shines an unaccustomed light on the work of the Adjudication Panel for England (APE). The Panel is little known to the public … but it has the power to remove Cllrs from office between elections without appeal.

Most attention on standards has focused on the Standards Board for England (SBE) … and particularly its’ long delays in dealing with cases. But most complaints to the Board are trivial, vexatious and/or politically motivated … and rightly result in findings of “no breach of the Code of Conduct” or “breach but no action to be taken”. Only cases sent to the Panel can result in disqualification and removal from office.

The Standards Board has so far only referred fourteen London Cllrs to the Adjudication Panel … five cases have been dealt with, the ‘Islington 5’ are currently being heard, and the remaining four have hearing dates between today and December. Only one sitting Cllr has been disqualified by the Adjudication Panel - Barnet (now former) Cllr Alan Sloam (Colindale).