National appeal in loophole fight

Holly Wood: seeking Councillor Buckley’s removal from office

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A WOMAN campaigning to change the law to prevent sex offenders serving on councils has appealed for support nationwide.

Holly Wood, an airline executive, emailed more than 300 council bodies ahead of a top level meeting tomorrow with Marcus Jones, minister for local government, to discuss the legislative proposals.

Holly (32), from Dobcross, is travelling to London as part of a delegation organised by Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, who secured the meeting.

She will be accompanied by OMBC and Saddleworth parish councillor Nicola Kirkham and parish councillor Robert Knotts.

Holly said: “In my email I’m asking councils for their support for our campaign to change the law, an aspect of the Localism Act 2011, which is being used as a loophole in the case of councillor Mike Buckley.

“At out meeting we will be asking for sex offenders to be banned from serving as a local authority or parish councillor.

“Saddleworth Parish Council constantly asked for councillor Buckley’s resignation to no avail.

“So the only next step is to change the law. We will also be asking any change be retrospective.“

And she added: “I will not allow for this to be swept under the carpet. It is time to stand up and make a change for the better.”

It follows outcry at councillor Buckley’s refusal to resign from Saddleworth Parish Council after being found guilty of downloading indecent images of children on his computer.

Mrs Abrahams said: “The fact councillor Buckley hasn’t voluntarily resigned, and has defied calls to resign, is regrettable. But it has highlighted a loophole in the law which defies common sense and could occur again elsewhere in the country.”