A Hounslow Cabinet Member, either current or former, is under investigation by the council over allegations of fraudulent activity and financial gain. The investigation follows a whistleblowing report made by a council employee in May 2026 and remains ongoing, according to a report published ahead of the council’s Audit and Governance Committee meeting on Tuesday (November 3).
The whistleblowing report details an allegation against a Cabinet Member at the Labour-led council, though it does not specify which individual is referenced. The council has not determined any wrongdoing at this stage.
Council declines to comment on complaint
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked Hounslow Council to identify the Cabinet Member named in the report. A council spokesperson said: “As per usual practice, the council does not comment on whether a complaint has or has not been received.”
Following the local elections in May, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, appointed a new Cabinet. It remains unclear whether the allegation relates to a member of his previous Cabinet or the newly appointed one.
Political reactions to the investigation
Cllr Jack Emsley, Leader of the Hounslow Conservatives, said: “This is yet another potentially serious allegation against a Hounslow Labour Cabinet Member. The report suggests this issue has been ongoing for over six months, which raises questions over process and transparency.”
He added: “Residents in our borough need to be able to have confidence in those who are in charge of our borough’s services.”
A spokesperson for Hounslow Labour responded: “Whistleblowing is by its very nature an allegation made with legal protections for those making the allegation. There is an internal team who are responsible for investigating these. The Labour Group are not aware of the allegations, and it is right that the internal process is allowed to be completed. Cllr Emsley knows this and should know better than to seek to cast aspersions.”
Whistleblowing reports up over 400 per cent
The council received 17 reports made by employees through the Safecall system between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. Staff can report through Safecall, an independent external service, using an online form or a 24-hour telephone hotline.
Reports may be made openly, anonymously or semi-anonymously. Safecall forwards each report within 24 hours to two named senior council officers, who assess the concern and determine the appropriate response, including whether an investigation is required.
The council says this arrangement is “intended to support prompt, consistent action and more effective monitoring.” The 17 reports represent an increase from the previous year, when only three were received — an increase of nearly 500 per cent. The council report attributes the increase “partly to multiple disclosures concerning the same issue and to more bullying-related reports being submitted through Safecall.” Even without cases relating to the same issue, the increase would still have been 233 per cent.
Most concluded cases were either unsubstantiated or handled through the council’s Resolution Framework. Three cases, including that of the unnamed Cabinet Member, remained ongoing or awaiting further information at the reporting date.
