Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson today described suggestions he was a "Godfather" or "Mafia" figure in Liverpool as "ridiculous."
The ex-Labour Mayor claimed he was taking legal action against the government over it sending in commissioners to run part of the city due to its reliance on what he described as the "flawed" Max Caller report.
Mr Anderson is seeking a judicial review of the decision by Robert Jenrick - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government decision - to intervene in the administration of the local authority.
Mr Anderson was arrested last December on suspicion of bribery and witness intimidation.
Also detained in the probe were his son David, the now-dismissed Liverpool council head of regeneration Nick Kavanagh and millionaire property developer Elliot Lawless.
They deny wrongdoing.
Mr Anderson has now kickstarted a £20,000 crowdfunding campaign for legal representation for his proposed judicial review.
The 63-year-old today described the recent damning Max Caller report, which slammed Liverpool council as having a "dysfunctional culture, putting the spending of public funds at risk and undermining the city's economic development" as "flawed and inaccurate."
Mr Anderson told the ECHO: "In my view, the report is obviously flawed in many aspects, any responsible government minister could and should have relied on much more than that.
"I was at the council for 11 years, the idea it was like the Mafia and I was some sort of Godfather is ridiculous.
"I haven't committed any criminal offence and I'm confident that will be proved in the fullness of time."
Mr Anderson also revealed his legal team had launched a separate legal action against Merseyside police for their arrest of him in December.
The politician said those proceedings had been lodged and were soon to be reviewed by a judge to see if it should proceed to a further court hearing.
Liverpool council, a Labour stronghold, now has some of its functions taken from councillors and officers for the next three years and instead the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will appoint commissioners, part of an "improvement plan".
One of the key stipulations is the council will be unable to spend cash on any property transactions without the formal consent of the commissioners.
Mr Jenrick said "many millions of pounds have been wasted" as the report was published.
Announcing commissioners were to be sent in, he told the House of Commons: "It paints a deeply concerning picture of mismanagement, the breakdown of scrutiny and accountability.
"A dysfunctional culture, putting the spending of public funds at risk and undermining the city's economic development."
One element in March's Caller report was how inspectors found Mayor Anderson was said to have taken a more "active and direct" role in the running of Liverpool city council.
Bullying, intimidation, "dubious" deals and "jobs for the boys" were among the themes in the report by local government inspector Mr Caller, called in to investigate last December after the series of arrests for fraud, bribery, corruption and witness intimidation.
Today, Mr Anderson listed examples of developments in the city - "Paddington Village, Edge Lane, one phase complete, two phases to come, look at Kings Dock, we own that land, the Pullman Hotel, the Exhibition Centre, our investment in John Lennon Airport" - and added: "I'm fighting to clear my name and my legacy.
"I hope people look at the legacy and what we see going on Liverpool today, that's got my fingerprints all over it, it's got my DNA all over it."
On Wednesday evening, new Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson vowed to do whatever it takes to rebuild trust in the council and make the necessary changes demanded by the government.
A spokesman for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Following an independent and thorough investigation, the Caller report identified multiple failures by Liverpool city council in complying with its best value duty.
"Given the seriousness of the findings, the local government secretary has stated his intention to put in place commissioners to exercise certain limited functions of the council.”
