JMW acted on behalf of Joe Anderson, the former Mayor of Liverpool, in a high profile claim for Judicial Review against Liverpool City Council (“LCC”).

The subject of the Judicial Review proceedings was a decision taken by LCC to refuse Mr Anderson’s application for an indemnity for his legal costs in responding to allegations of corruption associated with his work as Mayor of Liverpool. Mr Anderson denies any criminal wrongdoing and without the indemnity he would not be able to fund any legal defence costs. LCC claimed that it did not have the legal power to grant the indemnity to Mr Anderson.

Following the hearing on 20 July 2021, Mrs Justice Yip decided that LCC had acted unlawfully when it decided that it had no power to grant the indemnity. The Judge also clarified the way in which LCC should deal with any future funding applications.

LCC will now reconsider Mr Anderson’s request for an indemnity in light of the judgment handed down on 3 August 2021, and will also be required to pay a proportion of Mr Anderson’s legal costs associated with the Judicial Review proceedings. The full Judgment can be read here.