Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson is arrested alongside four others in building contracts probe 

The Mayor of Liverpool has been arrested in connection with bribery and witness intimidation offences as part of a fraud probe, it was revealed today.

Joe Anderson, 62, was arrested by Merseyside Police alongside four other men as part of a police probe into building and development contracts in the city.

Anderson shot to prominence in October after slamming the Government’s old tiered lockdown system for offering little financial support to Northern businesses facing collapse under the harshest restrictions.

Police have not confirmed the Labour Mayor’s identity, but said a 62-year-old was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The 62-year-old is believed to be Anderson – who hit the headlines in October with his vocal criticism of the Government’s tiered lockdown system, which he branded a ‘shambles’. 

Anderson has since been suspended from the Labour Party following the arrest, sources said.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson (pictured) has been arrested in connection with bribery offences and witness intimidation

Anderson, 62, (pictured with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last month) was arrested by Merseyside Police alongside four other men as part of a police probe into building and development contracts in the city

Liverpool was the first English region to be put into the top Tier Three – prior to the country’s second national lockdown – as cases surged in the city.

He accused the Government of railroading through its Tier Three measures for the city without local leaders agreeing to anything back in October. 

His pushback came alongside criticism from Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who also blasted the rules – with affected vast swathes of the North.

Anderson (pictured) shot to prominence in October after slamming the Government’s old tiered lockdown system for offering little financial support to Northern businesses facing collapse under the harshest restrictions

Alongside the 62-year-old, four others were also arrested, the Liverpool Echo reports.

A 72-year-old and a 25-year-old were arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation. 

Two other men – aged 46 and 33 – were accused of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation. 

The Labour Party politician has led the city since 2010 and has been Mayor since 2012.

Last year he secured the Labour Party selection to run to be Mayor of the city for a third term at May’s delayed elections.

In October, Anderson (left) revealed that his eldest brother Bill (right) died after being admitted to intensive care with coronavirus aged 70 

A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: ‘Liverpool City Council is co-operating with Merseyside Police in relation to its ongoing investigation. We do not comment on matters relating to individuals.’

In October, Mr Anderson revealed that his eldest brother Bill died after being admitted to intensive care with coronavirus aged 70.

Bill Anderson was a former chairman of the Merseyside Merchant Navy Association,. 

Condolences for Joe Anderson poured in, including from MP David Lammy, Everton FC star Yannick Bolasie and Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham.