Former Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and ex-Labour councillor Derek Hatton have been formally charged with bribery and misconduct in public office, appearing before Preston Magistrates’ Court.
This comes as part of Operation Aloft, an investigation into the allocation of commercial and business contracts by Liverpool City Council spanning a decade from 2010 to 2020.
Joe Anderson, 67, who served as Liverpool’s first elected mayor from 2012 until 2021, vehemently denied charges of bribery, misconduct in public office, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
Among the allegations, Anderson is accused of orchestrating threatening letters to himself. His son, David Anderson, 37, from Wavertree, also faces charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, which he disputes.
Derek Hatton, 77, a prominent figure in Labour’s militant faction during his tenure as deputy leader of the council in the 1980s, refuted allegations of one count of bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office. His preliminary court interactions were marked by a reminder from Judge Lloyd to refrain from chewing in court.
Sonjia Hatton, 49, from Aigburth, pled not guilty to misconduct in a public office, accused of improperly handling confidential council information to benefit her husband’s business contacts.
The court also heard from Andrew Barr, 51, former assistant director of highways and planning, who denied charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct and bribery. Adam McClean, 54, from Woolton, faced charges related to bribery conspiracy, entering no plea.
Further, Nick Kavanagh, the council’s former head of regeneration, aged 56, from Mossley Hill, denied two counts of bribery, as did Phillipa Cook, 49, residing at the same address.
Alexander Croft, 30, from Aughton, Lancashire, also indicated a not guilty plea to a single count of bribery.
Julian Flanagan, 53, Paul Flanagan, 61, both from Knowsley, and James Shalliker, 38, from Downholland, Lancashire, are all charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and have yet to enter pleas.
All 12 accused have been released on unconditional bail, with their next court appearance scheduled for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Preston Crown Court on 25 April.
