BREAKING NEWS: Political adviser quits over taped call

Published in Royal Borough Observer on-line on Sat 6th Mar 2010

A political adviser to the Royal Borough Andre Walker (pictured) has resigned after a recorded phone conversation was posted on the internet claiming he was conspiring to oust the council's deputy leader Alison Knight.

The damning and sometimes rude conversation was recorded by a rail passenger late on Tuesday night travelling on the Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside line.

The Windsor resident, who was sitting near Mr Walker, claims that he was so disgusted by what he overheard he decided to record the comments.

Throughout the ten minute chat with an unidentified man Mr Walker is alleged to have sworn and made rude comments about a councillor, an allegation he denies.

A statement from the Royal Borough said: "Effective from this morning (Friday 5 March 2010) Mr Andreé Walker has tendered his resignation from his position in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This has been accepted and he is no longer employed by the council. The Royal Borough will not be making any further comment."

Mr Walker said: " I went into work today (Friday) as usual. My position was untenable and I resigned.

"I was on the train on Tuesday night, I made some comments I shouldn't have, I was incredibly unlucky to sit next to a left wing activist who decided to record me.

"I put the council in a difficult position, I have apologised for that. A conversation I had was overheard, I said the wrong thing, I have apologised. That apology has gone to various people in the group including Alison Knight.

I resigned because that was the appropriate thing to do. I haven't spoken to Alison Knight.

"I think I have been pretty reasonable. I owned up to a mistake I have made. It's pretty hurtful for me to hear all these allegations."