Oh Mr. Anderson...and we thought you were a gastronome and europhile

Councillor Anderson was the Leader of Sunderland Council who initiated the Metric Martyrs prosecutions.

Councillor Anderson saw the prosecution of Steven Thoburn as a personal crusade.

Councillor Anderson was the man who branded Herron and Thoburn, "Nothing more than common criminals on Radio Newcastle."

Councillor Anderson is a member of North East in Europe and an ardent and outspoken supporter of the Euro and full political integration with the European Union, regularly using his position to expose his outspoken europhile views, clarifying why he was so committed to the Metrication agenda. A committed and dedicated europhile.

Councillor Anderson was an ardent and outspoken supporter of an elected regional assembly, and as a leading light in the North East Labour Party saw himself in pole position at the trough.

Councillor Anderson was one of the Sunderland Councillors who sat as a member of the unelected North East Assembly and was supplied all the information on the misuse of public money by that very assembly on promoting elected regional government. He chose to do nothing.

Councillor Anderson was the man who insulted the citizens of Sunderland by equating their Council Tax rises with food items. "It is only a couple of pasties a week!" The council tax had gone up by nearly a hundred pounds...a lot of money for people on fixed incomes. The hardly sylph-like Mr. Anderson had the gall to have himself pictured making fun of the people by posing with the said pasties... see here

Seems like Councillor Anderson may now have another claim to fame...

Sunderland Echo
3rd November 2003
PORN PROBE
by Jeremy Wicking
AN investigation was under way today after pornography was found on laptop computers used by two city councillors – a former leader and a cabinet member.

Labour Party sources said routine checks by council computer staff led to the discovery.Coun Aileen Handy and Coun Colin Anderson have both been given "administrative suspensions" from the Labour party as inquiries begin.

They have also been asked to tender their resignations from official council posts until investigations are concluded, though they both remain as ward councillors.

Coun Anderson, who represents the city's Millfield ward, said: "I am saying absolutely nothing. It's a really serious matter."He was leader of the council for three years between 1999 and 2002 and first joined the city council in 1973.

Coun Handy, who represents the Ryhope ward and holds the city cabinet portfolio for community services, said: "At the moment, I do not know what the allegations are and just know that they have been passed on to the standards board. I am taking legal advice."Her job on the council includes overseeing services such as waste disposal, collection and recycling.

Coun Les Scott, the chief whip of the council's controlling Labour group, said: "Following routine maintenance of the council-supplied computers, evidence has come to light that those supplied to Couns Anderson and Handy have been used inappropriately and in breach of an undertaking signed when receiving the equipment."

Coun Scott added: "Accordingly, the (council's) monitoring officer has felt it necessary to refer the matter to the Standards Board for England to investigate whether the code of conduct has been breached."

A board spokeswoman confirmed that there was an investigation into Coun Anderson about a "misuse of resources" but could not comment on Coun Handy.

Laptop computers are regularly used by officers and councillors and there are strict controls to see that they are not misused.A council spokesman said: "If a laptop is transferred later to a new user, the old date on the laptop is completely wiped. Checks are carried periodically."
03 November 2004