Express & Star obtains secret report on 'stolen valour' councillor whose future will be considered tomorrow
The future of 'Walter Mitty' Councillor Greg Brackenridge will be considered at a meeting tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) following the completion of an independent investigation.
Members of Wolverhampton Council's governance and ethics committee will be told that Councillor Brackenridge did breach the council's code of conduct when he falsely claimed to be an ex-Royal Marine.
A secret report, seen by the Express & Star, reveals that an independent investigation commissioned by the council found Councillor Brackenridge guilty of three separate breaches of the council's code of conduct.
Investigator Melvyn Kenyon also said that Councillor Brackenridge failed to co-operate with his inquiries.
The three areas of the code that Councillor Brackenridge was found to have breached were: treating other councillors and members of the public with respect, not attempting to use one's position improperly, and not bringing one's role or local authority into disrepute.
The complaint, made by an unidentified member of the public, relates to Councillor Brackenridge's term as mayor of Wolverhampton in 2021, and his subsequent spell as chairman of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority.
It was ruled that the complaints relating to Councillor Brackenridge's time as chairman of the fire authority - he resigned in October last year after a public fall-out with interim chief executive Colonel Oliver Lee - fell outside the scope of the council's disciplinary code. But the allegations of 'stolen valour' - relating to Councillor Brackenridge's claims to have served with the Royal Marines - were deemed worthy of further investigation.
Councillor Brackenridge's claims were highlighted by The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, an organisation dedicated to exposing people guilty of fabricating or embellishing their military service.
He resigned as chairman of Wolverhampton Council's armed forces covenant board after the allegations emerged.
In an election leaflet, Councillor Brackenridge had referred to 'my previous professional careers, firstly with the Royal Marines, and then as a local firefighter'.
In September 2021, during his term as mayor, he unveiled the Saraghari Memorial memorial to Sikh soldiers in Wednesfield, saying: "I served as a Royal Marine myself when I left my school and I worked with members of the Sikh community in the armed forces, and people from all around the world - the Nepalese and the Gurkhas."
He was also pictured wearing a Royal Marines tie. But it later emerged that while he did some Commando training after leaving school, he never completed this and was therefore not entitled to describe himself as a former Royal Marine.
Mr Kenyon concluded: "By embellishing his military service, he showed disrespect towards those who have served, been injured and died in military service and towards those whose military personnel who have lost or otherwise supported those people.
"His words at the unveiling of the Saraghari Memorial showed particular disrespect towards members of the Sikh community for whom Saraghari Day is an annual commemoration of the bravery and sacrifice of Sikh soldiers."
He said Councillor Brackenridge had further breached the code by seeking to "increase his personal stature and to gain political advantage".
"In doing these things Councillor Brackenridge brought his own role as a Wolverhampton city councillor and the City of Wolverhampton Council into disrepute."
During the course of the investigation, Mr Kenyon interviewed Col Lee, who served as a senior officer with the Royal Marines, and ex-fire officer Richard Woodward, who reached the rank of Lance-Corporal.
Col Lee said it was inconceivable that Councillor Brackenridge would have come into contact with Gurkhas during his training.
"There is no chance he could have come across Gurkhas," he said.
"They are part of the army, and don't go anywhere near the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. "
Councillor Brackenridge was 'administratively suspended' from the Labour Party in October last year, but was reinstated in September.
The committee has the power to order censure or reprimand anybody found guilty of a breach, and to recommend to their group leader that they are removed from committees or positions of special responsibilities. It can also order they are issued with further training.
Councillor Brackenridge was contacted for comment.
The committee will be told that a total of nine complaints were received during 2024, three of which were dismissed, and three were either withdrawn or not proceeded with by the complainant.
One was found to be without grounds, and a further one was resolved informally.