黑洞社区

Construction is 鈥渋n denial鈥� over the growing scandal of blacklisting, industry champion Nick Raynsford MP has said.

Responding to last week鈥檚 parliamentary debate and a call from the Labour Party for a public apology and compensation for victims, only one major contractor - Carillion - commented, while the UK Contractors Group (UKCG) said blacklisting was a 鈥渉istoric鈥� problem.

The CBI Construction Council, whose members include Cullum McAlpine, founding chairman of the now-defunct blacklisting organisation The Consulting Association (TCA) and Sir Robert McAlpine director, declined to comment beyond describing blacklisting as 鈥渋llegal and unacceptable鈥�.

Nick Raynsford, Labour MP and Construction Industry Council honorary vice chairman, said he believes blacklisting could still be continuing and blamed a 鈥渃ulture of denial鈥� for the sector鈥檚 response.

鈥淭here was universal condemnation in the Commons for these practices, which may still be going on,鈥� he said.

鈥淢y gut instinct is that this is an ongoing matter and there is a common interest in looking into it because it seriously damages the industry鈥檚 reputation.

鈥淚t has tarnished the industry. In my view it is in everyone鈥檚 interests that the major contractors involved issue a full apology. It is also appropriate that they look seriously at [setting up] a compensation fund.鈥�

A spokesperson for the UKCG 鈥� which represents many firms that used TCA - said its members 鈥渄o not condone blacklisting鈥�.

A spokesperson for Carillion welcomed the Commons debate, calling it an 鈥渋mportant milestone鈥� but declined to comment directly on Labour鈥檚 demand.

The spokesperson described the firm as 鈥渢he only company to have apologised for its involvement with TCA鈥� and said subsidiary Crown House ended its involvement six years before the practice became illegal in 2010.

Balfour Beatty and Skanska declined to comment. Sir Robert McAlpine also declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.