The High Court has dismissed two Rochdale care homes' claims against the Council and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Lambert. The care homes claimed that they had lost contracts worth over £670,000 because of an alleged slander by Councillor Lambert at a Community Forum meeting in May 2012 following the Rochdale grooming cases. The claim was issued in April 2013 (the limitation period in defamation is 12 months).

Councillor Lambert maintained that his remarks were directed at the statutory child care system and not at the homes, which he had not named. The High Court has just dismissed the claim at a hearing to determine the meaning of the remarks; the case will therefore not go to trial.