Awards row rumbles on as civic honours given to ex-cabinet members
Attempts had been made to block the civic recognition of former city councillors Malcolm Kennedy and Abdul Qadir
Civic honours will be awarded to two former members of Liverpool Council – including a previous Lord Mayor – despite efforts by opposition leaders to block them over personal controversies. The local authority has given its majority approval to award 12 former elected representatives with the title of Honorary Alderman or Alderwoman.
Among the recipients were former Lord Mayor Malcolm Kennedy and ex-cabinet member Abdul Qadir. This caused consternation among opponents after Mr Kennedy and Mr Qadir had to step down from their positions respectively over attendance and conflict of interest issues.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, said he was happy to endorse both men’s inclusion on the list, as others questioned the validity of the nominations. Political parties are invited to nominate former Lord Mayors or former councillors with more than 10 years in office to be recommended.
Mr Kennedy who represented Kirkdale from 1998, was criticised for living in Spain since March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began and attending meetings online. He subsequently resigned in October 2021 amid fierce criticism from opponents.
Mr Qadir stepped down in 2023 after an investigation into his reported links to a stalled development scheme in Vauxhall. He left his role as cabinet member for neighbourhoods after it was established he had links to a large stalled development scheme in Vauxhall through the Liverpool-based Vega Group, which owned MV Canal, the subsidiary company behind the scheme.
An amendment to the 12-person list was put forward by Cllr Carl Cashman, leader of the Liberal Democrats, to strike both men from the list. Addressing the chamber, he said: “We need to look at the process for these going forward.
“For me, the award should mean something.” Cllr Cashman accused the Labour group of being “out of touch” in nominating both men and said the general public would not accept it.
He added: “Don’t give honours to those who had had to resign in a cloud of controversy.” Cllr Alan Gibbons, who seconded Cllr Cashman’s amendment, scoffed at former councillor Kennedy’s previous assertion that he could have worked from his Spanish home, describing it as “frankly ridiculous, pushing into comedy.”
The Liverpool Community Independents group leader said nominees should be “blemish free” adding: “I don’t believe with these councillors we can say that.” Cllr Gibbons said: “It isn’t personal, it’s about the principle.”
Cllr Tom Crone, leader of the Green Party, said it “should be obvious” that either man should not be nominated. Cllr Steve Radford, who went onto call out members he didn’t like personally, said: “I find this debate quite nauseating, we shouldn’t be using awards as a political football for attacks on people who aren’t here to defend themselves.”
Cllr Dan Barrington, deputy leader, said not accepting the nominations would “potentially set a dangerous precedent” and described the move to block Mr Qadir and Mr Kennedy’s nominations as “clearly politically motivated.” Despite opposition members voting against, the honours list was adopted.
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Among those also receiving recognition include former Lord Mayors Gary Millar, Roy and Roz Gladden, alongside former members Tony Concepcion, Pam Thomas, Beatrice Fraenkel, Pauline Walton, Sarah Jennings, Nick Crofts and Barbara Mace.
