Liverpool shuns arrested ex-mayor’s demand to cover legal costs Liverpool City Council has refused to meet the legal costs of former elected mayor Joe Anderson who was arrested on suspicion of bribery and witness intimidation. Mr Anderson said earlier this week that he had asked the council to meet his legal costs defending the allegations arising from his December arrest in Merseyside Police’s Operation Aloft. A statement issued for Mr Anderson said: “The legal costs indemnity is set out as part of the council’s constitution and has been provided to other members and officers in similar circumstances.