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Council paper in propaganda row
Apr 4 2007 By David Bell, Birmingham Mail
INDEPENDENT auditors are to investigate allegations of political abuse of the city council's free news-sheet, Forward.
At the centre of the propaganda row is city leader Coun Mike Whitby.
Opposition Labour councillors have complained last month's issue carried seven pictures of him in its first eight pages.
And they are furious that their article on the city's budget was spiked and not published in the issue because it was deemed "political"
Coun Catherine Grundy has referred Forward to outside auditors claiming that it has been misused for political ends.
But Coun Whitby refuted the allegations and said the council had a duty to communicate with its citizens.
His image was promoted so heavily in the news-sheet "because there is so much good news to impart," he told the council.
Examples included the city's low 1.9 per cent council tax rise and the hosting of the European Indoor Athletics.
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