Ex-politician Hatton and his wife deny misconduct

 Former politician Derek Hatton and his wife Sonjia have appeared in court to deny misconduct in a public office.

Mr Hatton, 77, the former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office at Manchester Crown Court.

Mrs Hatton, 50, of Aigburth, is accused of providing her husband with confidential council information over matters of commercial and business use. She denied the same charge.

Both were released on bail until their trial, which is due to take place in April.

Mr Hatton, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool, pleaded not guilty at a hearing earlier this year to a charge of offering a bribe.

The couple will go on trial along with former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, his son David Anderson and the council's former assistant director of highways and planning Andrew Barr.

Mr Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash in Liverpool, denies bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

His 38-year-old son, of Wavertree, Liverpool, denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and Mr Barr, 51, of Ainsdale, Merseyside, denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and accepting a bribe.

They were charged as part of Operation Aloft, launched by Merseyside Police to look into the awarding of commercial and business contracts from the council between 2010 and 2020.

Six other defendants who were charged in connection with the investigation are due to stand trial in February.




my view:

Who can we trust now? It feels as though almost every institution that is meant to protect, care for, or represent the public has been touched by corruption in some form. Systems that were built on trust and responsibility seem increasingly driven by power, money, and self-interest. When the people inside these systems fail, the damage goes far beyond individual cases—it weakens public faith as a whole.

Take prisons and law enforcement, for example. Prison officers and police are supposed to uphold justice and maintain safety, yet there have been repeated scandals involving abuse of power, corruption, racism, and misconduct. When those responsible for enforcing the law break it themselves, it creates a dangerous double standard. Instead of feeling protected, people begin to feel watched, controlled, or even threatened by the very authorities meant to serve them.

The same sense of betrayal appears in healthcare. Nurses and medical staff are widely respected for the difficult and vital work they do, but when cases emerge involving neglect, mistreatment, or institutional cover-ups, it shakes public confidence. These professions rely heavily on trust—patients are vulnerable, and when that trust is broken, the harm is not just physical but emotional and psychological as well.

Politics may be where distrust is felt most strongly. Politicians often promise change, fairness, and transparency, yet many end up involved in scandals, dishonesty, or decisions that benefit themselves or powerful groups rather than ordinary people. Lobbying, corruption, and broken promises make it hard to believe that those in power genuinely represent the public. Over time, this creates apathy and anger, especially among younger generations who feel ignored or manipulated.

Even institutions that are supposed to stand above politics, such as the monarchy, are not immune from criticism. High-profile controversies—such as the widely reported allegations involving Prince Andrew—have caused many to question whether wealth and status place people beyond accountability. When figures at the very top appear protected from consequences, it reinforces the belief that the system is unfair at its core.

All of this leads to a deeper question: if institutions fail us repeatedly, where does trust go? Many people begin to rely more on individuals than systems—community, friends, independent journalists, or whistleblowers—rather than official authorities. While not everyone within these professions is corrupt, the repeated failures of institutions make it harder to separate the good from the bad.

Ultimately, the feeling that “everything is corrupt” comes from disappointment more than cynicism. People want to believe in fairness, justice, and integrity. When those values are undermined again and again, trust doesn’t just fade—it fractures. Rebuilding it would require real accountability, transparency, and consequences, not just apologies or silence.