Tories Try To Muzzle The Kent Police, And Fail

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-36429681

http://www.channel4.com/news/election-expenses-allegations-on-an-unprecedented-scale

From the above link :::

"Judge Barron said the circumstances of his judgment include:"The nature and extent of the enquiry with the involvement of the Electoral Commission and investigations taking place not just in South Thanet but across the country. As Louise Edwards [Head of Regulatory Compliance and Casework at the Electoral Commission] points out this is on an unprecedented scale."

[Buenchico]

Well, I've read both links and I can't see anything at all that indicates any attempt to "muzzle the Kent police"!

The court hearing didn't come about through any action by the Conservative Party to seek to block the police investigation. It came about solely because there's an automatic 12-month time limit on action being taken in respect of matters to do with election expenses unless, prior to the end of that 12-month period, a court has granted an extension.

So, since they've not completed their investigations, the police were forced to go to court to seek such an extension. They weren't fighting any action by the Conservative Party (who seem to have played no part in the court case whatsoever) but simply following the requirements of the law.

[mikey4444]

Buenchico....this hearing today most certainly did involve the Tory Party attempting to muzzle the Kent Police !

This is the report from tonights CH4 news :::

http://www.channel4.com/news/tory-expenses-police-given-extra-time-to-investigate

The Party sent a highly-paid Barrister to try to get the 12 month ruling upheld, and the Judge declined to accept his arguments.

CH4 has been reporting this for weeks.

This is what the Electoral Commission said to the Court today :::

"In a submission to the court, the Electoral Commission said: "The investigation has been delayed and hindered by the failure of the [Conservative] Party to provide complete and timely disclosure"

If 12 Police forces around Britain, in Kent Police, have been given more time to investigate this matter, then it would seem that there is indeed a case to answer.

[Jackdaw33]

Have thought of the consequences here, Mikey? If the Tories lose the case their MP will be disqualified and the seat awarded the the runner-up, your favourite politician of all time. Does your heart glad!

[mikey4444]

Much as I despise Farage and his unruly rabble, he should be beaten in a fair fight. The evidence that CH4 has provided makes it appear that the fight was far from fair, and the attempt to cover up the Tory shenanigans has been inept to say the least.

Anyway, as I understand, if it is decided that the Election in Thanet was not fought by the rules, than another Election will need to happen.

If Farage wins that second Election, then so be it.

Fairness comes before personal opinions.

[Baldric]

Do you think Al Murrray would stand for a second Election?

[shoota]

Second elections are a real problem these days...

[youngmafbog]

I'm not sure where muzzling comes into it. Plod dragged their heels and needed more time, that in itself needed to be challenged so Plod dont just think it is acceptable not to pull their finger out in the future.

As for fairness, I would agree with you though. May the best man win every time.

[mikey4444]

YMB....it would appear from the evidence produced by CH4 news, and the court hearing, that while the Police might have acted with more alacrity, most of the delay was due to the Tory Party refusing to cooperate, or, at the very least, cooperate within a tighter time frame.

I recall that the Electoral Commission had to take the issue to court a couple of weeks ago, to force the Party to produce vital documents, which it finally did, within hours of the court ruling.

But we agree about the second election in Thanet, ( and other constituencies as well perhaps ). We could indeed end up with Farage finally getting his seat at Westminster.

Considering how long he has been trying, perhaps we should give him one anyway, just for sheer persistence !

[Orderlimit]

I can't find any evidence to support your wild claims mikey (again). Can you help us out?

[mikey4444]

No, Order Limit, but you can help yourself by reading the links properly.

There is clear evidence that the Tories have been stretching the rules on the 2015 elections in certain constituencies. What happened in Court was that the Judge has given the Police more time for their investigations, and the Tory Party tried to stop that happening. And the Party failed.

I can show you the evidence but I can't make you believe it. That is up to you.

[jourdain2]

I'm with mikey in that it should be a fair fight. The Tories need pulling to heel on this, they cheated, I think, in order to be able to laugh at the Brexit movement. I won't be happy if 'leave' loses the referendum for the same reason- the 'remain' lot 'took a flyer'.

I'll abide with democratic decisions - but not 'fixed' decisions.

[mikey4444]

jourdain2....Its obvious why the Tories did this in South Thanet, as they had to defeat Farage at any cost. But they appear to have cheated in such a ham-fisted way, that it was never going to go undetected.

So incompetent as well as unfair....a toxic combination.

[mikey4444]

They Tories have already admitted a failure to declare election expenses :::

http://www.channel4.com/news/battlebus-conservatives-admit-election-expenses

"The Conservative Party today 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"

20th of April 2016.