Joe Anderson was one of five men arrested by police investigating claims of bribery and witness intimidation in relation to building contracts in the city. Merseyside Police said all five people “have been released on condition bail, pending further inquiries.” The Labour Mayor has released a statement on the incident and said he has fully co-operated with the police.
Mayor Anderson said: “I was arrested as part of Operation Aloft on Friday 4th December, and interviewed for 6 hours. I co-operated fully with Merseyside Police and will continue to be co-operative in their continuing enquiries.
“I will be talking to my cabinet colleagues over the weekend to ensure the challenges our city faces with the Covid pandemic continue to receive the focus they deserve. I also support the Labour Party’s decision to apply an administrative suspension while this investigation continues.
“I have been bailed to return in one month’s time. Given the investigation is continuing, and there are bail conditions, I will not be making any further comments.”
The arrest forms part of a year-long investigation by the force, named Operation Aloft.
The probe has focused on a number of property developers and Mr Anderson, 62, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.
Police said they detained two other men, from Liverpool and Ainsdale, for the same offences.
This morning Cllr Richard Kemp, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats on the city council, called for Mayor Anderson to step aside while the investigation took place.
He said: “We need to have an urgent meeting of senior politicians in the City including myself as Opposition Leader to consider how the council as a whole moves forward and how we support the Chief Executive.”
Mr Anderson was first elected Mayor of Liverpool in 2012, having been on the city’s council since 1998.
The politician had previously worked as a social worker and joined the Labour Party in 1980.
The Liverpool Mayor has been at the forefront of the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and recently spearheaded the drive for mass testing in Liverpool.
Boris Johnson recently used Liverpool as an example of how areas can reverse rising coronavirus cases, as the area recently moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2.
Prior to England’s four-week national lockdown the city was in the highest tier, but was moved down after the rollout of mass testing helped numbers get back under control.
Earlier this year Mr Anderson revealed that his brother Bill had died of the virus aged 70.
