48 Facts About Brian Coleman

Brian Coleman FRSA was born on 25 June 1961 and is a former Independent Conservative politician and a former councillor in the London Borough of Barnet.

Brian Coleman was chairman and leader of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority from May 2008 to 5 May 2012.

Brian Coleman is widely regarded as the worst politician the Borough of Barnet has ever had.

Brian Coleman was a consistent opponent of redevelopment plans by Barnet Football Club, including their proposed move to Copthall Stadium and in May 2013 he said he rejoiced and called for the church bells of Barnet to be rung to celebrate the club's demotion from the Football League.

Brian Coleman was a critic of Hendon Football Club and the London 2012 Olympic Bid.

Brian Coleman is against the proposal for the North and West London Light Railway.

The previous month Brian Coleman was the only objector to the erection of a wind turbine at Frith Manor Primary School, as he believed it was "out of character in the green belt".

In 2002, Brian Coleman announced his intention to seek the Conservative Party nomination to be candidate for Mayor of London, but he was rejected at a very early stage.

Brian Coleman was elected as councillor for the London Borough of Barnet Council's Totteridge ward in 1998.

Immediately following the local government election in May 2006, Coleman successfully proposed a vote of no confidence in the leader of the borough council, Councillor Brian Salinger, triggering an election in which Salinger was replaced as Leader by Councillor Mike Freer.

Brian Coleman is a former chairman of the Finchley Friends of Israel and remains a member of Conservative Friends of Israel.

Brian Coleman was Mayor of Barnet from May 2009 to May 2010.

In September 2009 Brian Coleman was found to have broken Barnet Council's code of conduct.

The complaint was made by a local blogger who had received an email from Brian Coleman calling him an "obsessive, poisonous individual".

Brian Coleman would be liable to reimburse the council for the legal bill.

In 2011 Brian Coleman was again investigated for an alleged breach of Barnet Council's code of conduct, this time for a series of abusive emails to four Barnet residents.

The Standards Sub-Committee of Barnet Council met on 5 March 2012 to consider the investigator's report and found that Brian Coleman had indeed breached the code of conduct in respect of two of the four allegations; he was ordered he write letters of apology within 14 days.

Brian Coleman appealed to the First-tier Tribunal against the ruling, but his appeal was rejected.

Brian Coleman still refused to comply with the tribunal's order that he should apologise, as the council was reportedly looking for possible sanctions.

Brian Coleman appeared to have apologised at last, after Conservative group leader Cornelius confirmed that he was beginning the process of suspending Brian Coleman from the Conservative group.

In February 2012, an East Finchley resident accused Brian Coleman of ignoring a petition with 290 signatures from residents in East Finchley requesting a review into 10-minute free parking arrangements in front of a post office.

Brian Coleman said the suggestion was unworkable and would reduce revenue.

Martin Buhagiar, group editor of the North London Times and Independent series newspapers, opined that "Manners maketh man" and that "Brian Coleman seems to enjoy giving taxpayers the impression he does not have any".

Brian Coleman encouraged voters to take action at the ballot box.

In July 2010 Brian Coleman participated in and defended as "sensible" a decision by Barnet's Tory Councillors to award large increases in allowances to council cabinet members.

Brian Coleman already had nine penalty points on his driving licence.

In February 2009 Brian Coleman commented on a proposed off-road light-rail line that would reconnect the two branches of the Northern Line in Barnet, as well as linking to Ealing Broadway, Wembley, Brent Cross and West Hampstead.

Brian Coleman described the scheme as "bonkers" and insulted those in favour of it.

In May 2010 Brian Coleman returned to Barnet's Cabinet taking the Environment and Transport portfolio.

Brian Coleman stated that his priority would be "roads, roads, roads and roads".

Brian Coleman takes great pride in his campaign to reopen Partingdale Lane, a narrow winding country road with no footway, between Mill Hill and Woodside Park in north London.

Brian Coleman accused residents of staging one of the two car accidents reported in the weeks following the reopening of Partingdale Lane.

Brian Coleman was elected to the Assembly at the 2000 election, and retained the seat in both 2004 and 2008, losing it dramatically in 2012 with a swing from a majority of 20,000 to a deficit of 20,000.

On his re-election to the Assembly in May 2008, Brian Coleman made an angry acceptance speech at the count in which he announced that "the king of bling is back" before storming out, accompanied by his mother.

Brian Coleman was defeated by Dismore, by 74,677 to 53,378 votes, a swing of some 40,000 votes.

Brian Coleman was criticised by Livingstone for "creating a chauffeur service for himself" and by the leader of the Barnet Council Labour group for his "breathtaking arrogance".

When questioned about his cab fares by the Metro Newspaper, Brian Coleman claimed not to use taxis but thought he was being ferried about in 'an official GLA car'.

Brian Coleman was vice chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority from 2004 to 2008.

Val Shawcross, former chair of the LFEPA, stated that "Brian Coleman has an almost hysterical approach to the issues".

In July 2009 Brian Coleman was the only London Assembly member to refuse to voluntarily publish details of their expense claims in a move towards greater transparency following the Parliamentary expenses scandal.

Brian Coleman's remarks were directed to assembly member John Biggs who stated that they were not acceptable in a public meeting.

In October 2011 Brian Coleman reportedly told a single mother facing a rent rise to "live in the real world" and that Councillors simply cannot conjure housing out of thin air and to consider renting in the private sector.

Brian Coleman was arrested for assault for an incident that took place on 20 September 2012.

Brian Coleman claimed that she was filming him on her mobile phone when he noticed her and attempted to grab the camera.

Brian Coleman was charged with assault by beating and driving on a road without reasonable consideration.

Brian Coleman subsequently claimed that he entered a guilty plea as part of a deal to ensure he retained his driving licence.

On 10 September 2013 Brian Coleman was described as having 'stormed out' of a Barnet Council meeting after losing an appeal against a ruling that he had broken the members' code of conduct by failing to treat others with respect.

From 2005 to 2006, Brian Coleman was a Conservative member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Congress of the Council of Europe.