News from Labour Matters

Croydon Conservative Councillor quits Cabinet after IRA link is exposed

Channel 4 News reports that:
“A Tory councillor and education chief has quit after admitting she worked for the IRA in the 1970s.

Maria Gatland resigned as a cabinet member on Croydon Council after being exposed as the author of a “kiss and tell” book about the provisionals.

In the book it describes how, among other tasks, she acted as an interpreter for the movement on an arms-buying trip to Europe.

The council appears to have been unaware of her past because the book was published in 1973 under her maiden name, Maria McGuire.

A spokeswoman for Croydon Council said: “The council has been advised that Maria Gatland has resigned as cabinet member for children, young people and learners.

“This follows emerging news of her connection to the Provisional IRA – which has come as a complete shock to Croydon.”
Read the full article.

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