Councils Claims Exposed

Telford and Wrekin Council is coming under scrutiny for its handling of the claims made regarding local investments, particularly concerning the establishment of a new defence facility by Rheinmetall. 

New Gun Barrel 

This situation raises significant concerns about transparency and accountability within the Labour led council, as well as the potential for misleading information being disseminated to the public.

Unsubstantiated Claims Lacking Evidence

May 19, 2025, at least two councillors made bold claims about the economic benefits of Rheinmetall's investment in Telford, including the creation of over 400 jobs, in the creating of the new "gun hall". Councillor Lee Carter, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Cllr and MP Shaun Davies, were both quoted in the press.

CEO and Chairman of Rheinmetall Germany, Armin Papperger, was heavily quoted in the press too, but he made no reference to any involvement or help in any form by Labour led Telford and Wrekin Council.

However, Mark Webster, a local campaigner, curious as to what help and assistance Telford and Wrekin Council actually provided, he submitted an FOI request seeking documentation and evidence to substantiate the Leader of the council and the MP's claims.

The council's response was alarmingly inadequate, when it was eventually received, on July 2nd, instead of 19th June!

While the council did provide a timeline of engagement with Rheinmetall, detailing specific dates and events, it failed to offer any substantial evidence of the council's proactive efforts to attract the facility. 

The timeline included a press release from Rheinmetall itself, but lacked any evidence of concrete actions taken by the council, raising questions about the authenticity of their claims.

Mark Webster specifically asked for evidence of Local Government Support: The council's response indicated that it did not hold any recorded information regarding actions taken to attract Rheinmetall, including financial incentives or support programs. 

This absence of documentation is seriously troubling, as it suggests a lack of genuine strategic planning or investment in local economic development as they have claimed.

The council also admitted that it could not provide evidence to support the claim of over 400 jobs being created, stating that this figure originated from a press release by Rheinmetall. 

This reliance on external sources without any independent verification undermines the credibility of the council's assertions.

The council also stated that it did not hold any recorded information regarding metrics or criteria used to evaluate the success of its efforts in attracting businesses. 

Yet again, this exposes the lack of performance evaluation and raises concerns about the council's ability to assess the effectiveness of its economic strategies.

Misleading Information and Accountability Issues

The responses provided by Telford and Wrekin Council reveal a pattern of misleading information and a lack of accountability. By failing to substantiate their claims with concrete evidence, the council is eroding public trust. 

Residents of Telford and Wrekin deserve transparency regarding local investments and the economic benefits they are promised.

The council's inability to provide satisfactory answers to key questions about local government support, job creation, and performance metrics raises serious concerns about its commitment to transparency.

This situation is not just about a single delayed FOI request; it reflects a broader issue of governance and accountability within the council under Cllr Lee Carters leadership!

The implications of Labour led Telford and Wrekin Council's actions are significant. By making unsubstantiated claims and failing to provide adequate information in response to FOI requests, the council under Lee Carter may be intentionally misleading residents about the benefits of local investments. 

This behaviour probably stems from the desire to present a positive image of the council's economic development efforts. But is ultimately undermining public trust and accountability.

Cllr Carter and Telford Labour, as the controlling party on Telford and Wrekin Council, must address these failings and commit to greater transparency in its dealings with local residents. 

Our community deserves accurate information and a council that is held accountable for its claims and actions. 

Without this commitment, under Labour and Cllr Lee Carter, the council risks further alienating the very residents it aims to serve.

#TelfordDeservesBetter #WrekinDeservesBetter 

Written by 


Mark Webster

Advocate & Campaigner




In the event of issues with the links above, below are the full links to copy and paste


https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/rheinmetall_claims/response/3068888/attach/3/TWC%2078447%20A%202023%20FOI%20Response%20Letter%20LATEST%202%2028052025.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1




https://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/news/council-delight-at-new-uk-defence-facility-in-telford




https://plus.shropshirestar.com/news/2025/05/19/new-defence-facility-for-telford-will-create-up-to-400-jobs-on-former-gkn-site/




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1derk74qzyo




https://www.telford-live.com/2025/05/telford-manufacturing-boost-with-400m-rheinmetall-investment/

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