NEWTEKWORLDNEWS
Menu

Spotlight on Tory election fraud

2/5/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
Op-ed: In the UK election spending is strictly controlled.

If you and your campaign managers overspend criminal charges can follow.

This week as the UK gears up for local council and PCC elections, and London gets set to elect a new mayor, the Tory party is in the corruption spotlight.

They have failed to answer allegations of serious overspending which in theory could and should put their place in government into question.
With a slim majority the Conservative party is in a precarious position.

Currently 26 Tory MPS are being investigated for electoral fraud by the Electoral Commission in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service; more MPs than the Tory majority.

In April we reported "Allegations of election overspending look set to undermine the legitimacy of the UK Tory government but will allegations be explained away?"


Once again Channel 4 news is at the heart of allegations against the Conservative party.

​Early in 2015 they reported on the story of David Cameron's fathers' links to an off shore tax haven following it up a few months later with "
George Osborne family business' £6m offshore deal"; in 2016 it has been a series of revelations that appear to indicate the Tory Party did not play fair during the 2015 General Election campaign."


In November 2015 the Mail Online claimed Channel 4 could be sold off to raise £1billion adding David Cameron confirms ministers are 'looking at all the options' for the station."

Cameron was quick to insist he was a huge fan of Channel 4 harking back to its origins; he may however not like the direction its news service is now taking.


Channel 4 investigators have uncovered a series of overspends by the Tory party during its successful 2015 General Election campaign; a lot depends on what was local spending and what national.

Channel 4 News "obtained further undeclared receipts showing more than £38,000 was spent accommodating activists at hotels across the country, as part of the BattleBus2015 campaign. The spending was not declared to the Electoral Commission in accordance with the law. The investigation has also obtained evidence that the BattleBus campaign was focused on local candidates, suggesting the accommodation costs incurred should have been declared on local candidate spending returns, if so this could constitute a criminal offence."

The Conservative party claims administrative errors or should that be incompetence? Some however will suspect purposeful wrongdoing in order to win an election at any price.

And although the Conservative party and others may try to dismiss the allegations selective overspending at elections is a criminal offence.

The typical Tory method of firstly denying allegations and then back pedalling somewhat should not save them this time, assuming the Electoral Commission and our political system is fit for purpose.

Ultimately the Conservative Party confirmed to Channel 4 News that it had failed to declare the costs related to the Battlebus hotels due to what it described as an "administrative error" despite previously stating that all of the party's returns were accurate.

While in many ways it matters whether the extra costs were actually an administrative error or the Tories flouting the rules to get their way back into government either way it looks like they have broken the law.

Will the Conservative Party run true to form trying to dig up election spending inconsistencies across parties and maybe even reforming the electoral commission and its rules to suit?

For now they are employing 'smear' tactics against senior members of the Labour Party helped on by some in the party and mainstream media so inclined.


​The Electoral Commission has strict rules about election spending but does it have any teeth when it comes to wrongdoing?

"The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections. The Commission is independent of Government and answerable to Parliament" but is it?
Channel 4 News's Political Correspondent Michael Crick has spent more than three months investigating Conservative Party expenses in 2014 and 2015.

Our first investigation in January revealed the party had spent more than £14,000 at the Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate, which they claimed as a national rather than a local expense.

On 25 February we revealed huge sums of seemingly undeclared spending by the party in 2014 in three key by-elections in Newark, Clacton-on-Sea and Rochester and Strood.

We also revealed how the Party bussed activists to multiple "Stop Farage" events in South Thanet.

​ The costs, including overnight accommodation were not declared.
Election expenses: Watchdog requests investigation extension?

The
elections watchdog has asked for more time to pursue possible criminal prosecutions regarding Tory election spending, as a summit is called to consider the evidence revealed by Channel 4 News.

Following months of investigations by Channel 4 News, the Electoral Commission has requested an extension to the time limit available to pursue possible criminal prosecutions regarding Conservative Party campaign spending review.

Bob Posner Director of Party and Election Finance & Legal Counsel at the Electoral Commission said, “The police and the CPS both have the power to apply to the Courts to extend the time limit on bringing criminal prosecutions for electoral offences to allow for full investigations to take place. We have requested that they consider doing this.”
​

more here

You can read how the investigation has proceeded at ElectionExpenses.co.uk.

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/complaints
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/political-party-spending-at-elections
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3304019/Channel-4-sold-raise-1billion-Cameron-confirms-ministers-looking-options-station.html

More:
Tories accused of disregarding election spending law
Will Electoral Commission prosecute Tory Party?
1 Comment
Hannah
3/5/2016 11:42:51 pm

Surely after the police investigated there should be evidence enough to prosecute. Do we have to wait for another 10 or 20 years to get them out during which they cream the milk and bring the country down further. How much more does it take to kick them out? The people should really call a halt now and not let them run another miles. Evidently they fiddled the election and should be out. Somebody also said 20,000 ballet papers gone missing and the Tories only got in with 900. So how much more doe we need and now?

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    British political scene

    The next General Election in the UK may not be scheduled any time soon but the British political landscape is changing. With that in mind this blog will concentrate on the political scene but with a left wing perspective. Opinion pieces and news will bring you the stories that the MSM prefer to ignore.

    The writer, Eileen Kersey, is a lifelong Labour Party supporter and voter but fairly recent party member.

    Archives

    September 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    45p 0345 Numbers
    Akehurst Calls For Corbyn To Resign
    Alan Johnson Blow
    American Fans Of Skinner
    Andrea Leadsom
    Andrew Marr
    Angela Eagle
    Anti Semetism
    Anti Semitism
    Article 50
    ASDA
    Austerity
    Austerity Cuts
    Austerity Myth
    BBC Bias
    BCC Suspends Longworth
    BDS
    Benefit Cuts
    Bernie Sanders
    Bitterites
    Boris Johnson
    Bremain
    BRexit
    Brexit Tory Party
    British Economy
    British Foodbanks
    British Politics
    Budget
    Budget Fall Out
    Budget For The Rich
    Cameron Done Wrong
    Cameron Quit
    Cameron Tax Summary
    Can Corbyn Save Referendum
    Carswell Quits Ukip
    Chemical Weapons Attack
    Chuka Umunna
    Clueless Tory Nicky Morgan
    Conservative Party Fraud
    Conservative Party Overspending
    Corbyn Backstabbers
    Corruption
    #CPC16
    Dan Jarvis
    David Cameron
    David Cameron EU Deal
    David Cameron Off Shore Havens
    David Heathcote-Amory
    Dawn Butler
    Democracy
    Dennis Skinner
    Diane James Quits
    Disability Benefits
    Disability UK
    Dodgy Dave
    Dodgy EU Referendum Dealings
    Douglas Carswell Quits
    DWP Shame
    Election Campaign Rules
    Election Fraud
    Election Overspending
    Electoral Commission
    Electoral Fraud
    Eligible Voters
    ESA
    ESA Cuts
    EU Debate
    EU Ref
    EU Referendum
    Ex Pats Vote
    Expat Voters
    Expenses Scandal
    Extremism
    Farage
    Foodbanks Asda
    Foreign Secretary
    Frank Field Labour
    Frank Field Tory
    G7
    George Osborne
    George Osborne No Show
    George Osborne Sacked
    Handbags At Dawn
    Heartless Iain Duncan Smith
    Heidi Alexander
    Heidi Alexander Resigns
    Help To Save
    Hilary Benn Sacked
    Hope Not Hate
    House Of Commons
    House Of Commons Voting
    Houses Of Commons
    Hull West And Hessle Support Corbyn
    Hypocrisy Rules
    IDS Fall Out
    International Womens Day
    Israel In British Politics
    Jamie Reed Resigns
    Jenny Tonge
    Jeremy Corbyn
    Jeremy Corbyn Backstabbers
    Jeremy Corbyn Budget Response
    Jeremy Corbyn Enemies
    Jeremy Corbyn Rally Hull
    Jeremy Corbyn Steelworkers
    Jeremy Corbyn Suit
    Jeremy Hunt Sacked
    Jess Phillips
    Jo Cox
    John Bercow
    John Longwroth Suspended
    John McDonnell
    John Whittingdale Scandal
    John Woodcock Backstabber
    John Woodcock MP
    Judiciary
    Junior Doctors
    Junior Doctors Strike
    Keith Hunter For PCC
    KenGate
    Ken Livingstone
    Khan And Cameron
    Labour Anti Semitism
    Labour Ban McDonalds
    Labour Leadership Election
    Labour List
    Labour NEC
    Labour Party
    Labour Party Suspensions
    Labour Party Unity
    #LabourPurge2
    Labours NEC
    Lady Smith
    Liam Fox Out
    Links To Israel
    Liz Truss
    Local Elections
    Loose Cannon Sugar
    Lord Alan Sugar
    Lord Tebbit
    Luke Akehurst
    Mainstream Media Attacks
    Michael Crick Investigation
    Michael Martin
    Mike Hookem
    Minimum Wage
    Momentum
    More Austerity
    Mum Would Say
    Named And Shamed Tories
    Nasty Party
    Nationalise Tata Steel
    National Living Wage
    NHS
    Nicky Morgan Booed
    Nicky Morgan Sacked
    Nigel Farage Is Back
    Obama And EU Debate
    Obama UK Visit
    Off Shore Tax Havens
    Open Letter
    Osborne Gets Honour
    Osborne In China
    Osborne Spring Budget
    Owen Smith
    Pairing By MPs
    Panama Leaks
    Parliamentary Racism
    Pensioners
    Pensions Ring Fenced
    Piggate
    PIP Changes Cancelled
    PIP Slashed
    PMQs
    PMQs Theatre
    Podgy Dave
    Political Sleaze
    Porn Star Politics
    Profumo
    Racist David Cameron
    Rhea Wolfson
    Richmond Park
    Robert Peston
    Sadiq Khan
    Savings Gateway
    Self Serving MPs
    Shouting Tories
    Shut Up A Ya Face
    Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
    Sing The Anthem
    Sir Alan Duncan
    Speaker Of The House
    Stephen Crabb Out
    Stephen Woolfe
    Steven Woolfe
    Tanni Grey-Thompson
    Tata Steel
    Tax Avoidance
    Terrorism Belgium
    Therea May
    Theresa May
    Theresa May Cabinet
    Theresa May Favourite
    Tony Blair
    Tories
    Tory Election Fraud
    Tory Election Overspending
    Tory Leadership Race
    Tory Party Civil War
    Tory Party Conference
    Tory Party Splits
    Tory Smear Campaign
    Triple Lock
    Tristram Hunt
    True Socialism
    Tulip Siddiq Quits
    UK Industrial Suicide
    UKIP
    UK Pensions
    United Kingdom Referendum Voting
    Universal Credit
    Vote Jeremy Corbyn
    Vote Labour
    Water Cannons Belgium
    Weird Weather
    Welsh Windbag
    Wheres George
    Who Are Ya Cameron
    Working Age Benefits
    Zac Goldsmith

Click to set custom HTML
Support NEWTEK - Like what we do here at NEWTEK? If so, you should consider supporting us…
Running a news based website is fun, time consuming and can be costly. If you would like to help the site keep afloat please use the donate button
​
Sections:
News:
Welcome
Front page
Specials:

One Woman So Many Blogs


The Jeremy Corbyn Effect
​
NEWTEKWORLDNEWS:
About Us
Contact Us
Terms of Service
Cookie policy
Picture
  • Welcome
  • Latest
  • Animal Welfare
  • Barbara McPherson
  • Robert Weller
  • Dava Castillo
  • Odd News
  • Environment, science and health matters
  • On this day in History
  • About Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Our Cookie Policy
  • Welcome
  • Latest
  • Animal Welfare
  • Barbara McPherson
  • Robert Weller
  • Dava Castillo
  • Odd News
  • Environment, science and health matters
  • On this day in History
  • About Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Our Cookie Policy