Anderson denies misconduct and bribery charges

EX-CITY MAYOR ACCUSED OF SENDING HIMSELF THREATENING LETTERS

- By ELEANOR BARLOW, ADAM EVERETT

FORMER Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has denied charges of bribery and misconduct.

The 67-year-old is among a number of men and women who have been charged in connection with Merseyside Police's Operation Aloft, an investigation into the awarding of commercial and business contracts by Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

Anderson appeared before Manchester Crown Court yesterday, and pleaded not guilty to bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

These counts include an allegation that, between June 28 2010 and August 5 2015, he “sent or arranged the sending of threatening letters to himself”.

Having led the council from 2010, Anderson became the city's first directly elected mayor in 2012 and served in that position until his arrest in 2020.

The council's ex-deputy leader Derek Hatton is also due to stand trial alongside him in 2027, with the 77-year-old having been accused of one count of bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.