AN investigation could be reopened into claims a political smear campaign tried to blacken the name of a senior Wirral councillor.

Independent consultant Patricia Thynne was commissioned to probe the claims last year and carried out a full examination of available evidence.

She found a smear against the leader of Wirral Conservative group had been attempted but there was insufficient proof to ascertain who was behind it.

She ruled a Labour councillor suspected of involvement had no case to answer.

The file then appeared to be closed - but the Globe has learned new evidence has been submitted which could lead to the investigation being relaunched.

Insisting on anonymity, a well-placed source said: "Someone has come forward in the last couple of weeks with a claim which seems to contain a significant new development.

"The council has asked Ms Thynne to take a look at this new material and if she thinks it to be of sufficient weight, to reopen her inquiry."

Joe Blott, Wirral’s head of transformation and resources, confirmed: "We have been made aware of information which was not raised at the time with the investigator, and it is right to follow this up.

"We have no further comment to make at this stage."

Ms Thynne's findings were published last July in a 17-page report in which she indicated that some “key witnesses” had declined to be interviewed.

The case centred on a secret tape-recording, an alleged conspiracy and a letter which reportedly cast aspersions on Tory leader Cllr Jeff Green.

Such was the nature of the apparent skulduggery that the saga was dubbed "Wirralgate" on social media. 

The allegation was that the letter had been procured by a Labour councillor using unscrupulous means.

The Conservative chief raised the issue at a meeting of the full council in December, 2013.

Council leader Phil Davies was asked if had been aware of a tape-recording in which a senior member of his administration encouraged former council workers to smear Cllr Green in order to take pressure off Labour and gain political advantage.

Ms Thynne wrote in her report: “The only clear evidence of an attempt to mount a smear campaign against Cllr Jeff Green is the letter purporting to describe a meeting with him.

“While the contents may appear ineffective as a basis, I am satisfied that it can be seen as an attempt to smear Cllr Green.

“There is insufficient evidence to identify the source of this attempt and there is no corroborative evidence as to who wrote the letter or that it was ever circulated.

"Its contents are less than an adequate basis for such a campaign but I am satisfied that it could be seen as an attempt to smear Cllr Green."

Her findings contained the observation: “There is enough evidence to suggest that the behaviour of a number of councillors in the recent past was at best clouded by political motives and was at risk of breaking the code of conduct.”

Ms Thynne said Cllr Green had been anxious to emphasise he did not ask for a formal investigation under the code's protocol.

Councillor Green said at the time: “I am satisfied that the investigator has recognised that there was indeed an attempt to smear me.

“Even though that campaign was inadequate and ineffective it has no place in any organisation that is genuinely seeking to improve."

Councillor Davies said today that he was unaware of any new developments and would be contacting the town hall's legal department for clarification.