Bonkers case against former City Chief Executive fails

Three years ago, yes that long, Ben Rose of the Weis Group, alleged the former Manchester Chief Executive, Joanne Roney, now the Managing Director of Birmingham City Council, had used an offensive antisemitic term against him. He claimed a few weeks after meeting Joanne Roney over a property deal at Deansgate Square/Great Jackson Street she’d called him “a massive Jewish bellend”. He hadn't heard her say this but someone had told him she had.

Rose, who represents property company the Weis Group, took her and the city council to the county court on a racial discrimination claim over antisemitism but has now discontinued the case.

A Manchester City Council spokesperson says: “The case against former chief executive, Joanne Roney, the Council and by extension its officers, has been discontinued by the claimant Benjamin Rose. There was not a shred of evidence that the alleged offensive remark was ever made. Our position has been completely vindicated. We remain implacably opposed to antisemitism and all other forms of hatred and discrimination.”

Joanne Roney CBE says: “Everyone who knows me personally and professionally would know I would never say such a slur and I am pleased I am now vindicated. There was no evidence because I didn’t say it and would never say it. To have this allegation repeated widely over three years has been very depressing, not least to the many Jewish colleagues and communities, I have worked with for many years. I’m pleased this matter is now closed. I thank everyone for their support.”

The Council have also noted that “Benjamin Rose’s side will pay the Council’s legal costs of £95,000 under the terms of the settlement”. Rose was suing the Council for £30,000.

There was no evidence because I didn’t say it and would never say it.

The whole case has been utterly bizarre. Cue the Laurel and Hardy theme tune.

The allegation came after somebody said they’d heard the slur then passed that onto someone else who then spoke to Rose. Or to put it another way, it was claimed that apparently council employee, Richard Cohen, told one Mark Powell about the alleged comment, who told Rose. Rose didn’t learn who had allegedly said the comment that was never said until his father David Rose heard it from another property developer.

It gets even more weird. Powell then denied in court that Richard Cohen had ever said the alleged phrase to him and that it was all taken out of context. So Cohen it turns out was not even the source of the comment that was never said. It gets your head spinning.   

By the way, Rose isn’t Jewish but the company he represents, Weis Group, is Jewish owned. He told the MEN because of this association he’s often thought of as Jewish. This apparently underlies his decision to go to court.

Of course, people following the Manchester property scene know Rose and Weis Group have been at loggerheads with public bodies in Manchester for years. Rose has called Manchester’s property scene a ‘cabal’ with ‘preferred developers’ pulling in all the juicy subsidies.

Earlier this year Weis Group sued Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) over two loans totalling £140m to property developing giant Renaker for the Deansgate Square area. In July the Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed the claims. Weis Group said it may appeal.

GMCA weren't happy. In a statement quoted in Place North West a GMCA spokesperson said: “Throughout this case there have been flagrant attempts to undermine our reputation through false allegations and insinuations. Today’s judgment should be the final word on the matter. It definitively debunks the false idea that loans were administered corruptly or that there was a cosy relationship between GMCA officers and developers.”

Rose says the claims against Joanne Roney and Manchester City Council were separate from that case. 

Even if that were true then given the non-evidence and the lack of a witness it’s difficult to understand why Rose pursued Joanne Roney and the Council in the courts. The sorry affair feels vindictive and peevish. Letting such a slur hang over another’s head for years when you have no evidence is plain wrong. The case has also wasted precious court time in an over-burdened justice system. 

Ultimately Benjamin Rose seems to have conducted a meaningless and costly wild goose chase. Once more, cue the Laurel and Hardy theme tune.

Coming soon: Jonathan Schofield interviews Council Leader Bev Craig about the new plans for Piccadilly Gardens.