Lynskey Tribunal

The Lynskey Tribunal was a 1948 tribunal of inquiry into allegations of corruption among British government ministers and civil servants. The focus of the allegations were Sydney Stanley (real name Solomon Wulkan) a corrupt fraudster con-artist of Polish nationality who also worked as a spy passing information to the Zionist terror group Irgun. The allegations raised public alarm and disgust, in the economic climate of austerity that prevailed in contemporary Britain. Though there were no prosecutions, the enquiry resulted in ministerial resignations. Attempts were further made to deport Stanley, who had never gained British nationality, though this was found to be impracticable. He was then placed under severe restrictions and surveillance in accordance with the Aliens Order 1946 but in 1949 managed to escape the country and travel to Israel, where he was granted citizenship in accordance with its right-of-return laws.

The years following the Second World War saw the United Kingdom suffering from widespread material shortages and from rationing more severe than it had been during the war. During 1948, allegations began to surface that ministers and civil servants were taking bribes to help businessmen circumvent the rules. Home Secretary James Chuter Ede established a tribunal under High Court judge Sir George Lynskey, assisted by Godfrey Vick KC and Gerald Upjohn KC, and with a broad ranging remit to enquire into the allegations. The enquiry was thought to be sufficiently important to recall Attorney-General Sir Hartley Shawcross from his mission to the United Nations, where he was completing the administration of the Nuremberg Trials, so that he could lead for the government's interest.Goodhart argued that using Shawcross's elite forensic skills enhanced the efficiency, effectiveness and reputation of the Tribunal.

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