Ex-Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, former politician Derek Hatton and his wife are charged with bribery and misconduct over council contracts

Charged alongside Anderson and Hatton are the former mayor's son David Anderson and Hatton's second wife, Sonjia Hatton, who previously served as a planning officer at the council.

Andrew Barr, formerly the council's assistant director of highways and planning and the council's former head of regeneration Nick Kavanagh have also been charged with offences relating to the investigation.

All those charged range in age between 29 and 77, and they will all appear at Preston Magistrates' Court on March 28.

Joe Anderson became the first directly elected mayor of Liverpool in 2012, and served until 2021. 

Veteran Labour politician Anderson announced he would resign from his £80,000 post as Liverpool's first elected mayor in 2020 after being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery as part of the police probe.

Anderson, who had led Liverpool City Council since 2010, initially resisted calls to resign, despite being suspended by the Labour Partywhile the investigation is going on.

Derek Hatton, 77, is charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office

Second wife of former politician Derek Hatton, Sonjia Hatton, 49, has been charged with one count of misconduct in public office

Joseph Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash, charged with one count of Bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office

At the time he said 'time will make it clear' that he is innocent. 

Reacting to the charges today, Anderson said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter that he is 'innocent of charges and will fight to clear my name'.

The ex-Liverpool mayor urged people not to 'fall into the trap of saying "no smoke without fire".'

He added: 'Thank you for all the messages of support and best wishes.'

Hatton, the Trotskyist former deputy council leader and far-Left Militant group member, was questioned at the same time. 

Ministers subsequently sent in Whitehall-appointed commissioners to run Liverpool council's roads, planning, property and regeneration departments after inspectors uncovered a culture of bullying, avoidance of rules and money being wasted on improperly awarded contracts.

Merseyside police began an investigation into the awarding of building and regeneration contracts by the city council to developers in 2019.

Their inquiries are understood to have focused on several council-owned sites in the city, allegedly sold on an 'improperly preferential basis' to developers.

Last April, Anderson criticised how long the investigation was taking, saying he felt 'so angry' that people 'can be made to wait this long for justice'.

He said: 'I haven't been able to work nor claim benefits and have been like a recluse.'

Anderson, a father-of-four who used to work as a social worker and is a former member of the Merchant Navy, told the BBC his 'family, friends and faith' had kept him going, adding: 'I am determined to clear my name'.

In 2022, the leader of Liverpool's Liberal Democrats, Richard Kemp, called on police to speed up their investigation - saying the probe was causing reputational damage and costing taxpayers.

He asked for details on how much Operation Aloft had cost and for a timescale on when it might conclude.

Mr Kemp wrote: 'We know that these cases are extremely complicated... but our simple request to you both is to rapidly bring these Operations to a conclusion'.

The councillor called it 'unfair to all concerned… for these matters to be left for so long'.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said at the time: 'This is a complex investigation, involving thousands of pieces of evidential material.'

The first to be arrested under Operation Aloft in December 2019 were businessman Elliot Lawless, 37, founder of property development firm Elliot Group, and council director Nicholas Kavanagh.

Both were detained and questioned on suspicion of fraud, and released on conditional bail.

Mr Lawless has not been charged and denied any wrongdoing.

In 2020 police were refused an application to extend Mr Lawless's bail, and in April the High Court ruled the search of his home had been unlawful.

But police seized an estimated £337,342 from Mr Lawless, plus around 10,442 Euros under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Mr Lawless previously said he was 'fully expected' the money to be returned to him once the police had 'finished their enquiries.'

Robin Weyell, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor said: 'The CPS has reviewed a full file of evidence from the Merseyside Police and has authorised the investigation team to charge 12 people with 12 offences related to bribery and misconduct in public office.

'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

A spokesman for the council said: 'Liverpool City Council has actively supported this police investigation and will continue to co-operate as required.

'Since 2020, the council has been transformed under new leadership, including the successful conclusion of a period of government intervention, with significant improvements in governance and performance. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'

In full, those charged are:

• David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office
• Joseph Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash, charged with one count of Bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office – former Mayor of Liverpool
• Andrew Barr, 51, of Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery – former Assistant Director at Liverpool City Council
• Phillipa Cook, 49 of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery
• Alex Croft, 29, of Aughton, Lancashire, charged with one count of bribery
• Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• Derek Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, charged with one count of bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office
• Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, charged with one count of misconduct in a public office
• Nicholas Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, charged with two counts of bribery – former Director at Liverpool City Council
• Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
• James Shalliker, 38 of Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

(Source:Daily Mail)