Rochdale Lib Dems: 2nd Home Tramp Squatting in Office

For the duration of the last push of Transport Innovation Fund campaign LOL did not publish anything about the hysterically-bad-Rochdale Lib Dems. We even took down a goodly portion of our Rochdale archive to save upsetting the children as we pushed for a Tram for Wythenshawe, and the rest. This wasn't noticed or reciprocated by Dave Hennigan, full time politico, fully paid we understand by the tax payer.

We may come back to that. It is rare to see a man provide a running commentary by email to an increasing circle of observers as he loses his marbles with beer consumption. Rare indeed. We'll see. We also have some catching up to do as Rochdale Lib Dem perfidy and stupidity has not in fact ceased over the last two months.

Here's a start.


If you live in glass houses the general consensus is that you shouldn't throw stones. So why is Mr Dave Hennigan (above, once the LOL graphics department have sorted out the night vision photograph) using his generally red-faced and always hopeless little Frankenstein monster Paul Rowen MP to throw stones at the government? About secrecy over MPs expenses of all things?

Rochdale Alternative Website, a cowardly bunch of anonymites, have the story, like a little birthday present for LOL:

Rochdale Lib Dems in second home expenses scandal?

On the day the Paul Rowen MP hailed a Lib Dem victory in ensuring MP's expenses are made public, his troubled Agent David Hennigan has stumbled into controversy.

The clearly tired and emotional Spin Doctor was seen in Rochdale Town centre in the early hours of this morning. The dishevelled public figure smelt of intoxicants and staggered up Drake Street clutching a pizza whilst inpecting the failed regeneration project sites of the Rochdale Development Agency.

He was spotted entering the Rochdale Lib Dem offices at 1.30am. It appears he spent the night there. Was this on party business? If so how is Paul Rowen ensuring his staff abide by the Working Time Directive? After all, Mr Rowen is shadow, shadow DWP No.2.

Rumours persist that Mr Hennigan has slept in the Rochdale Lib Dem Drake Street offices on a number of occasions in similar circumstances.

It is understood Mr Hennigan left his marriage and Stockport home last year to spend more time with his politics. In doing so he decamped to a flat in Heywood. His landlord is Lib Dem Councillor Peter Rush. Dave publicly remarked that his move to Heywood would be a positive thing for the town. Despite his arrival the local economy has declined and several pubs have closed.

Mr Hennigan's nocturnal habits and sleeping arrangements pose a problem for his boss Paul Rowen MP. The politics of yob culture and binge drinking issues aside, his public stand on ensuring MP's expenses are fully accountable may backfire.

In the spirit of openness that Mr Rowen has nailed his colours to, will Rochdale's MP answer these simple questions?

-Is Dave Hennigan's salary paid for out of MP's expenses? If so, what pay scale is he on? How does this equate to other members of his staff?

-Is any of Adam Power's wage paid for by Parliamentary expenses?

-How much has the rent for the Lib Dem offices increased by? Has this increase been paid for out of Parliamentary expenses?

-If Mr Hennigan sleeps at the Drake Street offices, does this comply with planning conditions (for office use only) and Council Tax. And what about the smell for co-workers the morning after?

-If this Drake Street address is classed as a second Parliamentary home, will he disclose his John Lewis list?

-Does the Drake Street office have recycling bins to deal with domestic waste (cans, bottles, pizza boxes etc?

Rochdale Lib Dem Mohammed Shafiq, Cheif Executive of UK's leading Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, was unavailable for comment.

Panorama have been informed.

If I were Paul Rowen, Dave Hennigan and secret helper/intern/non-employee/liar Adam Power I'd be standing by my beds for some FOI enquiries over expenses and the like.