Stanley mixed with the great and the good of London society and rumours circulated that he was able, through his government contacts, to shortcut "red tape" and arrange preferential treatment, in return for monetary bribes. It was alleged, inter alia, that Stanley had taken money from: Harry Sherman, of Sherman Brothers, football pools promoters from Wales, who was seeking: A greater paper ration; Discharge of a prosecution for exceeding their current ration; and Consent of the Capital Issues Committee to become a public company. An importer of pinball machines who sought further import licences. Junior minister John Belcher and director of the Bank of England, and former president of the TUC, George Gibson were accused of corruption and they had certainly received gifts from Stanley including suits for which Stanley had provided the clothing coupons. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Hugh Dalton was also accused, as was Minister of Works Charles Key, and Robert Liversidge, a businessman whose internment during World War II had been something of a cause célèbre. The informal nature of the proceedings, convened without any defined indictment, led to a frenzy of speculation and allegation in the press. Though Stanley had been named as a Zionist spy by an MI5 report, which accused him of passing on information gained from Manny Shinwell a Jewish cabinet minister and known supporter of Zionism, to the extreme Zionist terrorist group Irgun which at the time was carrying out a campaign of bombings and assassinations, against British officials and Palestinian civilians, in an attempt to overthrow the British Mandatory Government of Palestine. Shinwell was certainly acquainted with Stanley, having requested his help and perceived influence in finding Shinwell's son Ernie suitable employment in the private sector. The Irgun thus obtained in advance such information as the disbandment of the Transjordan Frontier Force. The Tribunal focused solely on Stanley's fraudulent financial activities and influence-peddling, neglecting all allegations about his spying which were not raised at the tribunal. Tribunal The Tribunal sat in public for 26 days hearing witnesses at Church House, Westminster, with Stanley in attendance. It was a great public spectacle. The tribunal rose just before Christmas 1948 and reported on 28 January 1949. Findings and aftermath The enquiry concluded that Belcher and Gibson had been influenced in their public conduct and the police were of the view that they could be charged though Shawcross argued that prosecution would