Lawyer calls for Rochdale Council’s “toxic” political leadership to be overhauled

Solicitor Richard Scorer, who represented victims at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), has called for Rochdale Council’s “toxic” political leadership to be overhauled so that the town can move on from its child abuse scandal. 

He praised the work of Gail Hopper, the council’s director of children’s services, but claimed Labour had allowed Rochdale’s political leaders to act in a “dysfunctional bubble” and any improvements are being undermined by the council’s political leadership. 

Councillor Richard Farnell, who resigned as leader of the council, has been accused of lying under oath about his knowledge of child abuse at the now-closed Knowl View school. He has been suspended by Labour amid a possible police investigation into perjury, although he denies lying to the IICSA.

Councillor Farnell had not responded to an invitation to comment at the time of publication.

Leader of the local Labour group, and current leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Allen Brett, has not responded to an invitation to comment  at the time of publication.