A trial will take place later this year over claims Manchester council’s former chief called a property agent a ‘massive Jewish b***end’.
Joanne Roney CBE, who left the town hall in September for a top job at Birmingham council, has been accused of using the slur to describe property agent Ben Rose. The Manchester Evening News understands Mr Rose first heard that someone at the council had allegedly referred to him in this way in 2022.
Mr Rose, who is a property agent for Orthodox Jewish landowners Weis Group but is not Jewish himself, was later told the apparent racist slur had come from Ms Roney herself. He complained to the local authority, who investigated the allegation, but Mr Rose claims the inquiry was ‘far from adequate’ and, last year, he filed a legal claim against Manchester council and its then chief executive.
The local authority denies the claim for damages and unlawful discrimination. A trial is now set to be held in the civil court later this year.
Commenting on the latest legal claim, Mr Rose said: “This has been a terribly upsetting chapter for my family and myself. As a property professional seeking nothing else but a fair and equitable outcome for my client, this is not the sort of case I ever expected to bring.
“However, I believe that antisemitism has no place in our society, particularly within organs of Government. As there are active legal proceedings now live, I cannot comment on the case in detail. However, I put my faith in the courts to uncover the truth of what was said.
“I am very pleased that the Judge has ruled that this matter must go to trial and hopefully this may be a turning point. Ultimately, I hope that this case can play a small part in standing up to racial prejudice.”
The M.E.N. understands that Mr Rose was initially told about the slur by a well-known property agent in Manchester who had heard it from a council staffer over lunch in 2022. He claims he was later told it was Ms Roney who allegedly made the offensive comment.
A Manchester council spokesperson said: “We have been made aware that legal proceedings will continue later this year following a claim, which has been robustly defended. The allegation is denied but it would be inappropriate to comment further pending the determination of the action.”
Ms Roney, who is now the managing director of Birmingham council, is listed alongside the council as a defendant in the case and will be expected to give evidence at the trial later this year. The M.E.N. has approached Ms Roney and Birmingham council for comment.
It comes as the Weis Group, which own prime sites across the city centre, sues the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) over multi-million pound loans given to skyscraper tycoons Renaker. The Weis family previously took Manchester council to court too.
The Weis family took Manchester council to court in 2023 over restrictions on land it owns at Great Jackson Street, but the court dismissed the case. The following year, Aubery Weis filed a separate case against the GMCA with the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
The property investor argues that the GMCA handed out loans to developer Renaker at a rate of interest below ‘commercial terms’, arguing that this has ‘distorted the operation of the market for property investment’. The GMCA says it is ‘confident’ in its processes.