THE decision by the national Labour Party to hold its own investigation into claims that councillors in Labour-run Burnley helped families jump the queue for council houses is a correct one.

Notably, it is in keeping with the Blair administration's determination to react positively to allegations of sleaze wherever they occur.

And, since Labour maintains widespread control and influence in local government, it is right to police standards of rectitude on every rung of its regime.

After all, apart from the necessity for probity at all levels of government, it knows full well from the harm done to the Tories by sleaze how a shuffling response to allegations of it only adds to the political damage. Therefore, this probe at Burnley needs to be conducted not only urgently, but most openly to reduce the potential for it to be compromised by the fact that, in essence, the party is investigating its own lot. And that is especially so if it ultimately transpires that there is no substance to these allegations.

That there is something to be thoroughly investigated, however, is manifest. For even before judgment has been given in this case, there is disturbing evidence that all may not be well at Burnley.

There has been a five-month inquiry by the council's chief executive, the sacking of a senior housing manager, the dismissal and reinstatement of another, the suspension by the local party of two of its councillors and, in turn, the resignation of one of them from the party as well as threats of legal action by others who have had allegations made against them.

It is in such vexed situations that the suspicion of sleaze thrives. It is vital, therefore, that if it exists at Burnley, it is rooted out not only by the council's own investigation and by that now launched by Labour at national level and if it does not, that the proof is underlined throughout by the candour and openness of the inquiries.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.