The blackmailers are alleged to have been property developers seeking favourable construction contracts from influential city officials.

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Despite the Shepherds' influential connections, council planning officials told them that they could not recommend approval of their first application for Walkergate Works.

ECONOMIST: Newcastle: The best laid plans | The

Social mobilisation is often undertaken through a network of influential local leaders such as teachers, elected officials and religious leaders.

UNESCO: National Literacy Programme (NLP)

So you not only have public officials getting together, you also have some very influential businessmen taking part.

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Officials from a number of the larger and most influential colleges have indicated to the BBC they were not prepared to take a tougher stance than that now.

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