Michael Guest, who sits on Copeland and Whitehaven Town Councils, was brought before borough officials amid concerns that controversial comments he made on social media related to the local authorities he represents.
However, he claims his Facebook post was intended to spark debate about corruption generally and said he has no evidence of corruption in either of the two councils.
“There’s no reason for an apology because I wasn’t accusing anyone,” he said.
The councillor posted over the summer claiming: “Corruption in Copeland is endemic” and “politics in Copeland is about corruption and self interest”.
Coun Guest said: “I was trying to stimulate debate about an ongoing issue that I have been in discussion with residents over the past four years, long before I became a councillor.” He said he made the comments as an individual, not as a councillor.
When questioned about his claims, he said: “I’m not pointing the finger at anyone or any institution. It’s nothing to do with the borough council, town council or any other parish council.”
He said there is “corruption everywhere” and said he referred to Copeland because he lives in the borough. He said “politics is in everything”.
Coun Guest attended a meeting on September 13 with Copeland’s director of finance and its internal audit manager. A council spokesman said: “The outcome of the meeting was that Coun Guest could provide no evidence to support his allegation of corruption relating to Copeland Borough Council nor Whitehaven Town Council.”
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