South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2008
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley is facing the threat of a libel action from a fellow councillor.
Clase councillor Ray Welsby is preparing to launch the move against Councillor Holley.
The action, which has seen a solicitor's letter sent to Councillor Holley, follows claims that Councillor Welsby allowed a council computer to be used by someone outside the authority - a claim he denied.
He called in solicitors Douglas Jones and Mercer, who wrote to Councillor Holley giving him 14 days in which to "apologise or face a libel action".
Councillor Welsby said yesterday: "I'm instructing for proceedings to be taken against him for libel.
"The 14 days are up."
Councillor Welsby claims Councillor Holley is attempting to prevent him standing at the next election in May and that the claims are "politically motivated".
He said councillors were "not allowed to speak openly because they are more or less threatened with being reported to the Ombudsman, because it doesn't suit the ruling group".
Councillor Welsby added: "I think because I speak out openly and truthfully that this has been used to get me suspended from the council."
But Councillor Holley said he was "deeply hurt" by the suggestion.
"That's definitely not the way that I operate.
"I'm absolutely fed up with it all," he said.
"I have no personal animosity against anybody."
He said yesterday: "I'm very disappointed that he feels this is necessary, but I will defend it most vigorously."
Councillor Holley also said that Councillor Welsby had "lost the plot" and that the issue of computer use was one that had to be addressed.
He added: "If we are told something by a member of staff, what are we going to do? Ignore it?"
At the end of the day, nobody accused him of anything, all they did was remind him that there is a policy and what that policy was."
He added: "I don't know why he is taking the action. What's the point of it?"
