MP demands inquiry into 'police links to blacklisting'

Labour MP John McDonnell is demanding an independent public inquiry into allegations police collaborated in the blacklisting of over 3,000 construction workers.

McDonnell sent the letter to home secretary Theresa May yesterday, demanding an inquiry and a debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

The call comes after investigators into the scandal told the Observer on Sunday that they had evidence that linked police to the blacklisting of workers.

The Information Commissioner’s Office told the newspaper that the level of detail on some workers “could only be supplied by the police or the security services” and “wouldn’t have formed anything other than a police record”.

Over 100 workers are currently preparing a High Court class action against some of the construction firms implicated in the blacklisting scandal.

Major firms including Balfour Beatty, Sir Robert McAlpine and Laing O’Rourke were found to have paid for access to blacklists three years ago.

However, Building does not have any evidence that these firms will be targeted by the writ.

A raid on the offices of a firm known as the Consulting Association in Droitwich in 2009 revealed more than 40 firms were paying an annual fee to access information on 3,213 workers’ union history, personal relationships and employment history.