Labour leader denies posing as BBC reporter

A SENIOR councillor has denied claims he impersonated a BBC journalist in order to obtain information.

Councillor Mike Barnes, Labour group leader on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said last night that he is "100 per cent certain" that the allegations will not stand up to scrutiny.

The Longton South councillor is accused of posing as a BBC reporter and claiming to work for a community news website.

It has been claimed that Mr Barnes contacted the press office at Cheshire West and Chester Council last week.

He is understood to have enquired about unfounded rumours concerning the authority's chief executive, Steve Robinson, who was previously council manager for Stoke-on-Trent.

Mr Barnes is said to have given a false name, John Brook, to council staff and is also accused of claiming he was a journalist for Radio Stoke.

The station said yesterday that the BBC was investigating. It is also considering whether to formally report Mr Barnes to the city council's standards committee.

A Radio Stoke spokesman said: "Mr Barnes called Cheshire West and Chester Council and left a bogus name, claiming to be a reporter from BBC Radio Stoke.

"The number he left was checked by the BBC and found to be an extension at the city council's offices.

"Mr Barnes admits posing as a reporter and giving a false name, but denies pretending to be from Radio Stoke."

In a statement issued late last night, Mr Barnes said: "I wish to totally refute any allegations that I impersonated or intended to impersonate a BBC reporter in any way at any time.

"I welcome the Labour Party's investigations into this matter, as well as any potential referral to the Standards Board, and will co-operate to the best of my ability in order to clear this matter up."

Mr Barnes's actions have also angered the owner of the Pits'n'Pots news and discussion website, Tony Walley.

He alleges that, when challenged by the BBC, Mr Barnes claimed he had been working as a reporter for the website.

Mr Walley said: "Mike phoned me and told me he had done something really stupid and wanted to apologise.

"He said that, when he was challenged by the BBC, he told them he had been working as a reporter for Pits'n'Pots, on behalf of Radio Stoke, which is not the case."

"I have spoken to the council's head of communications and PR, Dan Barton, about this and made it clear that I want to take this matter further."

A city council spokesman said they were aware of the allegations, but that the matter has yet to be referred to the standards committee. He said: "The city council takes any potential breach of the code of conduct very seriously."

Article five of the authority's code of conduct states members must not act a manner which could be regarded as bringing the authority into disrepute.

If found to be in breach of the code, Mr Barnes could face suspension or even be thrown out of the council.

The Cheshire council said it was aware of the BBC probe, but did not wish to comment.