THE Nolan Committee is in danger of tarring local politicians with the same brush as colleagues in Westminster, according to a long-standing Bolton councillor.

The so called sleaze inquiry set up to investigate standards in public life has turned its spotlight onto the workings of Britain's town halls.

Bolton council have been asked to forward their comments to the inquiry which will look at appointments, openness, codes of conduct and whistle-blowing.

But ex-Tory leader Cllr John Hanscomb warned Nolan from allowing recent MP scandals to ruin the reputation of all politicians.

He said: "We are all paying for what has gone on in London. It has created an atmosphere which I deplore because it has tarred everybody with the same brush.

"I have the greatest respect for local government. It is remarkably free of scandal and behaves exceptionally well.

"When something does go wrong there are mechanisms in place to make sure it is not brushed under the carpet.

"In all my years on this council I can only think of three examples were such things went wrong and all three were put right." But other councillors on the management and finance committee welcomed the inquiry. Former MP Cllr Frank White said: "It is remarkable there are so few cases but we cannot afford to look through rose coloured spectacles. What about Westminster under Dame Shirley Porter and the terrible corrupt practices that went on there?"

And chief executive Brian Collinge said Nolan provided a good opportunity to examine the relationship between officers and councillors and test if the system of surcharging both was "unduly harsh" .

Nolan, who recently produced a report on MPs, civil servants and non departmental public bodies will not look into the role, function or boundaries of local authorities.

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