Woking MP demands former Woking Borough Council CEO Ray Morgan is stripped of OBE

Liberal Democrat MP, Will Forster, spoke in the House of Commons urging the Government to strip Mr Morgan of honours following report identifying former CEO as “chief architect” in bankrupting Woking.

Thursday 24^th April – Speaking in the House of Commons, Woking MP Will Forster called on the Government to debate the removal of honours from individuals found to have committed serious failings in public office.

Mr Forster raised the issue following the publication of a public interest report which named Ray Morgan OBE, former Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council, as the “chief architect” in the financial mismanagement that led to the Council’s effective bankruptcy and a staggering debt burden of £2 billion.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Forster said:

“The former chief executive of Woking borough council, Ray Morgan OBE, has been identified in a public interest report as the chief architect in bankrupting my council, leaving it with debts of £2 billion.

“Does the Leader of the House agree that the very least the Government could do is remove his OBE for services to local government?

“Will she agree to hold a debate in this House so that we can discuss Government policy on removing honours when wrongdoing has been committed?”

Mr Forster is pushing for a debate in Parliament to review how honours such as OBEs may be withdrawn when serious misconduct or public harm is later uncovered.

In response Leader of the House, Lucy Powell MP, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, urging Mr Forster to contact the Honours Secretariat, who is responsible for the removal of honours:

“There is a special committee—it is not a Government committee—that looks at where there is a strong case for nominations to be removed. I urge him to contact that committee, and I will write to him with the details.”

Mrs Powell added that Mr Forster was “absolutely right to say that we need to make sure that people are held accountable for their actions. Where they have received nominations, that is something that we should consider.”

Mr Forster has now formally submitted a letter to the Honours Secretariat calling for the removal of Mr Morgan’s OBE.