https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/asif-hamid-fraud-wirral-call-centre-labour-contracts-tax-fh7bwf6rx

Asif Hamid and Paula Basnett (Wirral Council leader) are prominent business figures in the Wirral and Liverpool City Region who have held overlapping leadership roles across several key organizations.  Hamid, the CEO of The Contact Company and Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), served as Chair of the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, while Basnett acted as its Chief Executive. 

Both individuals were identified as directors of multiple entities, including Wirral Investment Network (Management) Ltd, Egerton House (Wirral) Community Interest Company, The Lauries Ltd, and Lauries Events Ltd.  Their close professional association has been the subject of scrutiny regarding the management of public funds and community facilities, with critics alleging cronyism and lack of transparency in how grants were awarded and how facilities like The Lauries in Birkenhead were run. 

Key joint roles and affiliations include:

Wirral Chamber of Commerce: Hamid as Chair and Basnett as CEO, managing properties such as Egerton House and Pacific Road. 

Liverpool City Region LEP: Hamid as Chair (having previously been Vice-Chair) and Basnett’s husband, Mark Basnett, as Managing Director. 

The Lauries Centre: Both served as directors on the board, managing the facility which faced complaints regarding public access and commercial prioritization. 

Public Funding: The Contact Company, owned by Hamid, received significant grants, including £1 million from the LEP in 2014, raising questions about the conflict of interest given the close ties between the council, the LEP, and the Chamber of Commerce. 

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

An emailed invitation I received many years ago. I did NOT attend. I was washing my hair.

Hmmm …