The former Mayor of Liverpool appeared in court today to face charges including misconduct in a public office
Joe Anderson leaving court following an earlier appearance(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
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 this morning, Friday, 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.
Others charged include 57-year-old former council director of regeneration Nick Kavanagh and his 51-year-old ex-assistant director Andrew Barr. Julian and Paul Flanagan, the founders of building contractors the Flanagan Group, also face proceedings, as does Anderson’s son David.
The defendants’ cases will be heard across two separate trials. The first will see Kavanagh, Philippa Cook, James Shalliker, Adam McLean and the Flanagans face a jury over the course of around three months from February 23 2026 onwards.
The Andersons, Hatton and his wife Sonjia and Barr are then scheduled to face a 15-week trial, beginning on April 5 2027. The latter also appeared in the dock today and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and accepting a bribe.
Operation Aloft was launched in 2019 in order to investigate the awarding of development contracts in the city. A number of high profile arrests were made as part of the probe.
This included then sitting Mayor Joe Anderson being held by police in December 2020. He had been seeking a third term in office at this time, but was instead suspended by the Labour Party and stood down from his position.
Speaking to journalists outside Preston Magistrates’ Court during an earlier hearing in March, he said: “Police pulled up and stormed into my house at 7 o’clock in the morning. I’ve cooperated with the police since day one.
“I’ve provided them with information, I’ve answered every question that they’ve put to me. It’s been four and a half years of hell waiting to get to this stage.
“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve now got to the stage where a crown court hearing will be heard, where people can actually get to see all of the evidence and what I’ve been accused of.
“I’ve defended myself and protested my innocence from day one. I will continue to do so because I have done nothing wrong.
“I’ve always put the city of Liverpool and its people first and will always continue to do so. I look forward to getting the opportunity to go to court and actually clear my name. I can’t comment on the things that have been said because it’s a live case.”
A council spokesman meanwhile said at the time of the charges: “Liverpool City Council has actively supported this police investigation and will continue to cooperate 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.”