From: Paul Cardin 
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2026 at 23:27
Subject: Asif Hamid and Paula Basnett – a public acknowledgment
To: Hodson, Andrew C. (Councillor) <andrewhodson@wirral.gov.uk>, Hall, Brenda (Councillor) <brendahall@wirral.gov.uk>, Basnett, Paula (Councillor) <paulabasnett@wirral.gov.uk>, Onwuemene, Amanda (Councillor) <amandaonwuemene@wirral.gov.uk>, Cooke, Chris (Councillor) <chriscooke@wirral.gov.uk>, Grey, Elizabeth A. (Councillor) <elizabethgrey@wirral.gov.uk>, Bird, Jo (Councillor) <jobird@wirral.gov.uk>, Jones, Tony J. (Councillor) <tonyjones@wirral.gov.uk>, Cox, Tony (Councillor) <tonycox@wirral.gov.uk>, Jenkinson, Gail (Councillor) <gailjenkinson@wirral.gov.uk>, Pitt, Richie (Councillor) <richiepitt@wirral.gov.uk>, Davies, Graham (Councillor) <grahamdavies3@wirral.gov.uk>, Ainsworth, Ann (Councillor) <annainsworth@wirral.gov.uk>, Cameron, Helen J. (Councillor) <helencameron@wirral.gov.uk>, Murphy, Kieran (Councillor) <kieranmurphy@wirral.gov.uk>, Cleary, Pat N. (Councillor) <patcleary@wirral.gov.uk>, Wilson, Vida C. (Councillor) <vidawilson@wirral.gov.uk>, Carubia, Christopher D. (Councillor) <christophercarubia@wirral.gov.uk>, Gorman, Harry R. (Councillor) <harrygorman@wirral.gov.uk>, Davies, George (Councillor) <georgedavies@wirral.gov.uk>, EAGLE, Angela <angela.eagle.mp@parliament.uk>, Laing, Tom (Councillor) <tomlaing@wirral.gov.uk>, Graham, Naomi J. (Councillor) <naomigraham@wirral.gov.uk>, Raymond, Helen (Councillor) <helenraymond@wirral.gov.uk>, Hodson, Kathy. (Councillor) <kathyhodson@wirral.gov.uk>, Wood, Gillian (Councillor) <gillianwood@wirral.gov.uk>, Davies, Angie (Councillor) <angeladavies@wirral.gov.uk>, Sullivan, Mike (Councillor) <mikesullivan@wirral.gov.uk>, matthew.patrick.mp@parliament.uk <matthew.patrick.mp@parliament.uk>, Bennett, Stephen (Councillor) <stephenbennett@wirral.gov.uk>, McManus, Grahame (Councillor) <grahamemcmanus@wirral.gov.uk>, Baldwin, Colin (Councillor) <colinbaldwin@wirral.gov.uk>, Redfern, Mike (Councillor) <mikeredfern@wirral.gov.uk>, Williams, Jerry (Councillor) <jerrywilliams@wirral.gov.uk>, Robinson, Jean M. (Councillor) <jeanrobinson@wirral.gov.uk>, Tomeny, Ewan (Councillor) <ewantomeny@wirral.gov.uk>, Johnson, Jenny (Councillor) <jennyjohnson2@wirral.gov.uk>, Luxon-Kewley, Louise (Councillor) <louiseluxonkewley@wirral.gov.uk>, Mountney, Simon R. (Councillor) <simonmountney@wirral.gov.uk>, Grier, Judith D. (Councillor) <judithgrier@wirral.gov.uk>, Kenny, Brian M. (Councillor) <briankenny@wirral.gov.uk>, Martin, Paul J. (Councillor) <paulmartin1@wirral.gov.uk>, Brame, Allan J.(Councillor) <allanbrame@wirral.gov.uk>, Booth, Max D. (Councillor) <maxbooth@wirral.gov.uk>, Molyneux, Ruth (Councillor) <ruthmolyneux@wirral.gov.uk>, Williamson, Janette (Councillor) <janwilliamson@wirral.gov.uk>, Green, Jeff E. (Councillor) <jeffgreen@wirral.gov.uk>, Gardner, Andrew M. (Councillor) <andrewgardner@wirral.gov.uk>, McManus, Julie (Councillor) <juliemcmanus@wirral.gov.uk>, Lewis, Ian (Councillor) <ianlewis@wirral.gov.uk>, Povall, Cherry (Councillor) <cherrypovall@wirral.gov.uk>, Walsh, Jason P. (Councillor) <jasonwalsh@wirral.gov.uk>, Laing, James (Councillor) <jameslaing@wirral.gov.uk>, Murphy, Tony (Councillor) <tonymurphy@wirral.gov.uk>, Lamb, Ed (Councillor) <edlamb@wirral.gov.uk>, Foulkes, Steve (Councillor) <stevefoulkes@wirral.gov.uk>, Rennie, Lesley A. (Councillor) <lesleyrennie@wirral.gov.uk>, Gilchrist, Phil N. (Councillor) <philgilchrist@wirral.gov.uk>, Skillicorn, Mark (Councillor) <markskillicorn@wirral.gov.uk>, Cooper, Graeme (Councillor) <graemecooper@wirral.gov.uk>, Stuart, Paul C. (Councillor) <paulstuart@wirral.gov.uk>, Stuart, Kaitlin (Councillor) <kaitlinstuart@wirral.gov.uk>, Jobson, Paul (Councillor) <pauljobson@wirral.gov.uk>, Powell-Wilde, Sue (Councillor) <suepowellwilde@wirral.gov.uk>, McDonald, Craig (Councillor) <craigmcdonald@wirral.gov.uk>, alison.mcgovern.mp@parliament.uk <alison.mcgovern.mp@parliament.uk>

The Nolan Principles (formerly known as the 7 Principles of Public Life)

Selflessness: Acting solely in the public interest, avoiding personal, financial, or family gain. 

Integrity: Avoiding obligations to outside individuals or organizations that might inappropriately influence official duties and declaring any conflicts of interest. 

Objectivity: Making decisions impartially, fairly, and on merit, using the best available evidence without bias or discrimination. 

Accountability: Being accountable to the public for decisions and actions and submitting to appropriate scrutiny. 

Openness: Acting and making decisions in an open and transparent manner, withholding information only for clear and lawful reasons. 

Honesty: Being truthful in all professional dealings. 

Leadership: Promoting and supporting these principles, challenging poor behavior, and treating others with respect. 

---

Note: for further essential information, please click on the contained hyperlinks in the following text:

Dear Wirral MPs and Councillors,

I write to you in full awareness of the Nolan Principles of Public Life—standards of integrity, selflessness, and accountability that must guide all public office holders. Should any doubt exist regarding their relevance, I urge a renewed commitment to these foundational values as you represent the people of Wirral.

This correspondence concerns Mr. Asif Hamid, CEO of TCCL Realisations Limited (formerly The Contact Company), The Contact Specialists, and Tower Wharf Limited. On 29 March 2026, the Sunday Times published a detailed exposé revealing Mr. Hamid’s criminal history, including:

Fleeing to Pakistan in 1990 after defrauding a Burnley hotel and BBC Children in Need of £4,500 through fraudulent fundraising, later surrendering in 1996 and serving a ten-month sentence at Burnley Crown Court

Convictions at ages 19 (possession of an offensive weapon) and 20 (deception via a falsified benefit cheque)

Association with three companies—TCCL Realisations Limited, The Contact Specialists, and Tower Wharf Limited—that have collapsed, collectively owing £6.2 million to HMRC, with liquidators stating recovery is unlikely

Alleged misappropriation of pension contributions from over 1,300 staff at his Birkenhead contact centre during 2024, reportedly reimbursed by public funds 

My primary concern is Mr. Hamid’s longstanding and close business relationship with Councillor Paula Basnett, Leader of Wirral Council. This association raises serious questions about governance, transparency, and adherence to the Nolan Principles—particularly selflessness, integrity, and accountability. 

Despite the gravity of these revelations, three weeks have passed with no coverage from the Liverpool Echo or Wirral Globe, nor any public statement from Councillor Basnett. On the evening of 20 April 2026, I attempted to seek clarification outside the Floral Pavilion but was met with evasion—Councillor Basnett turned away, engaged in a feigned conversation with Councillor Angela Davies, and was swiftly escorted to safety by former Council Leader Steve Foulkes.

To Wirral Councillors

I urge you to consult the Nolan Principles collectively, confer with one another, and adopt an official position. You must then use the council chamber despatch box to formally demand that Councillor Basnett issue a public statement on this matter. Silence is not an option when public trust is at stake. 

As it stands, a number of pressing questions regarding nepotism / cronyism / suspicious activity have previously been publicly raised on the business conduct of Councillor Paula Basnett. This has become exacerbated following her successful elevation to the position of Council Leader.

Further concerns regarding cronyism and financial oversight persist, including unanswered Freedom of Information requests about the annual £438,050 Business Support Grant to Egerton House and the Wirral Chamber of Commerce—organisations in which both Councillor Basnett and Mr. Hamid have held significant influence. 

To Wirral MPs

I call upon you to invoke the Nolan Principles, coordinate among yourselves, appoint a spokesperson, and raise this issue at the House of Commons despatch box. Demand a full inquiry into:

A. The roles of Mayor Steve Rotheram, Managing Director Mark Basnett (Councillor Basnett’s husband), and the former Local Enterprise Partnership that awarded Mr. Hamid a £1 million grant in 2014—despite internal Labour Party warnings being ignored

B. How Mr. Hamid, with a documented criminal past, passed vetting procedures and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to small and medium enterprises.

The public deserves transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. I expect a response from a nominated representative to advance these urgent matters,

Yours faithfully,

Paul Cardin
Wirral Residents Association

Paul Cardinabout.me/paul.cardin

---