'Anger after Labour HQ forces controversial Brighton TV presenter back onto candidate shortlist'
www.brightonandhovenews.org/2018/05/22/anger-after-labour-hq-forces-controversial-brighton-tv-presenter-back-onto-candidate-shortlist/
'The row over a Brighton media personality’s bid to be reselected as a Labour candidate has deepened after party’s HQ insisted she should again be shortlisted as a candidate despite the local party’s misgivings.
Sophie Cook, a former Latest TV newsreader who now presents a show on Brighton’s Radio Reverb, was dropped as a potential candidate by the East Worthing and Shoreham party after questions were raised about the bankruptcy of her company Seeker News in 2013 – but this decision was overruled by Labour head office.
As a result, the other two candidates dropped out, scuppering the selection process. And now a new process has started – but the party’s National Executive Committee has insisted Ms Cook makes the shortlist once more.' ....
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.... 'Ms Cook was taken off the shortlist by local members because she didn’t answer questions about the bankruptcy of Seeker News to their satisfaction. The company, which published a free newspaper in Poole, went bust owing almost £90,000 to creditors.
The administrators report, released in January last year, said that the directors – Ms Cook and her then wife Dawn – withdrew almost £25,000 from the company as loans to supplement their salary – money which there was no realistic prospect of being paid back following liquidation. HMRC rules then required tax to be paid on any loans over £5,000 at the rate of 25%.
It’s alleged that Ms Cook had not told the panel about the information in the first round interview, and could not satisfactorily answer their questions when they called her back having been informed about undisclosed irregularities.'