South Holland councillor in BBC "sting"
A leading councillor is facing an investigation after an undercover "sting" by a BBC news crew.
Angela Newton, leader of the opposition group on South Holland District Council, was secretly filmed dealing with BBC staff posing as potential customers for her Spalding-based estate and letting agency.
The secret film, shown on TV this morning, shows agents arranging viewing for a property for English people, but apparently refusing access to the same properties for a Polish customer.
THE TAPES TRANSCRIPT AND COUN NEWTON'S RESPONSE
A story on the BBC website to accompany the film says: "Estate agents are flouting race relations laws by discriminating against migrant workers on behalf of landlords, a BBC undercover investigation has found. Firms were found using illegal techniques to stop foreign workers viewing properties.
"Three agents rejected a Polish worker sent by the BBC, while a BBC employee was allowed to view the properties. One firm denied it discriminated in this way, while another said it had created a new race-relations policy."
The film did not identify Coun Newton - the BBC crew were apparently unaware of her senior council connections - but this morning the Free Press had dozens of calls and emails from readers to say: "It's her!"
This morning, faced with the film on the website, South Holland District Council was at first convinced that Mrs Newton, an Independent councillor, had done nothing wrong.
A spokeswoman for the council said: 'From the evidence that we have seen on the BBC website it is not apparent that Angela Newton, through her role as a director of a private company, has done anything wrong.' *
The council later added that they believed they had not been able to view the total content on the BBC website and now wanted to wait until they had seen all the footage before making a definitive comment on the situation.
But industry professionals took another view. Peter Bolton King, chief executive of National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), confirmed that if discrimination was proved, then agents faced being thrown out of the organisation.
He said: "NAEA is committed to setting the highest standards for lettings professionals, for the benefit of both the general public and the wider industry. NAEA members must comply with our Rules of Conduct. Our Code of Practice for Lettings Agents makes it very clear that any form of discrimination is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
"Rule 1e states: You must offer equality of professional service to any person, regardless of their race, religious belief, gender, sexuality, disability or nationality. You must not be involved in any plan or arrangement to discriminate against a person or people because of their race, religious belief, gender, sexuality, disability or nationality."
"Racial discrimination is appalling behaviour, which may be illegal. A letting agent simply cannot assist a landlord with refusing a tenant due to racial motivations.NAEA has asked the BBC to share any information it has that indicates misconduct by NAEA members. NAEA may take disciplinary action, which could lead to membership being withdrawn."
Mrs Newton, speaking to the Free Press today, said she had been advised not to comment at this stage but she hopes to be able to release a statement tomorrow.
Sources said that she believed the film, and her firm's comments, had been edited and did not reflect the whole story.
Angela Newton is an independent councillor representing Spalding's Monkshouse ward and is the leader of South Holland District Council's opposition group
She is a member of the governance and audit committee, the policy development panel, the political management arrangements working party, Spalding Town Forum, the standards committee, the appointments and disciplinary panel, the Internal Drainage Board liaison arrangements sub-group, the housing allocations appeal panel and the discretionary housing payments review board.
Coun Newton also represents the district council on the Britain in Bloom advisory committee, the National Association of British Market Authorities, South Holland Parish Voluntary Car Scheme, Spalding Town Husbands and the Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board.
*Judge for yourself. See the film here.
Or click on our transcript here.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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