Why is mayor’s case different?

Published: 4 February 2010

• I WAS astonished to see that the chief executive of Camden Council, Moira Gibb, has taken it upon herself to ban the mayor of Camden from performing any mayoral duties (New Journal online).
She pays lip-service to the idea that people are innocent until proved guilty, but she treats Councillor Omar Farukh Ansari as if he were guilty. He has not even been charged.
In her statement explaining her decision to ban Cllr Ansari from his job as mayor, she says that invitations have been withdrawn and engagements cancelled since his arrest (and subsequent release without charge) on January 26.
Might that not simply be because much of the media mistakenly reported that Cllr Ansari had resigned his position when in fact he had not? And what is it that makes her behave like this?
In Cllr Ansari’s case Ms Gibb simply abandons the basic principle of British justice that people must be presumed to be innocent until they are proved guilty.
MPs were not suspended from the House of Commons, even when the allegations against them were proved.
Why is the mayor of Camden so very different?
A question Ms Gibb: how many councillors in Camden are claiming disability living allowance and still carrying out their duties?
Jakir Miah
Chalton Street, NW1

Party matters

• THE past couple of weeks have been a real shock horror for the people of Camden, especially the Bangladeshi community.
Over the past years the mayor has always been in the press for his/her excellent work not for an allegation of benefit fraud (only allegations). However it appears that the Liberal Democrats have already made up their mind and decided that their mayor is guilty. I thought the law of this country was innocent until proven guilty.
This is a real disgrace. The Lib-Dems should support their councillors and candidates.
Karim Ullah
Eskdale, NW1

Theatrical

• AUTHORITARIAN New Labour’s spate of draconian laws led to the “unprecedented” arrest of mayor Omar Faruque Ansari.
The high-profile jack-booted descent of Department for Work and Pensions officials and police on a public figure such as a mayor in his parlour demands an explanation.
It smells of political chicanery, what with elections looming.
Mayor Ansari’s arrest was theatrical particularly as he had volunteered to answer questions. And he had not been charged with anything.
The proper course for the DWP was to ask Cllr Ansari for explanations for any concerns they had. For it to go to the police was wrong-headed.
Cllr Ansari should certainly continue with his mayoral duties as no charge has been laid.
LEO CHAPMAN
Dufferin Street, EC1