Why are senior politicians supporting theives?

R1Geezer | 15:43 Thu 11th Feb 2010 | News

6 Answers

Abdul Rauf defrauded The department of work and pensions out of over £80K, yet the leader and deputy of the SNP offer support! What do you reckon he's got on these two?
http://news.bbc.co.uk.../scotland/8510662.stm
Bl00dy disgrace, I hope the sweaties remember this come election time.

Alexander McQueen R.I.P.

suicide / hanging

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jno

MPs are allowed to support their constituents; she did so as his MP, not as deputy party leader. Salmon seems to have backed her in this capacity.

Still, it smells a bit.

VHG

I did post about this topic earlier (not about the political side of it though), more about how we able to get away with it, particularly as he had already stolen £60,000 in 1996 and gone to prison for it.

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question861462.html

VHG

What makes me "laugh" is that this politician said in her letter:

"she asked the court not to jail Rauf, pointing out he had health problems and a family with children under the age of 10".

Maybe the ba5tard should have thought of that before stealing all that money.

And the fact he had alreadfy stolen £60,000 earlier, didnt anyone think to check when he started asking for benefits in 2001 that he may be on the fiddle.

£650 a MONTH in rent was paid for him.

We are such a gullible country.

New Judge

I note that Ms Sturgeon suggests that it was her duty to make representations to the court on behalf of her convicted constituent.

I don’t know where she gets the idea from that she has to represent a constituent’s interests in a criminal court. I think that is what his (Legal Aid funded) representative is for.

I think she has shown a singular lack of judgement in this issue. It is not the job of politicians to try to influence a court in a matter of sentencing. In fact, it’s one thing they should specifically steer clear of as the judiciary is supposed to be independent of political influence in the UK. The court will be given all the salient facts, including the defendant’s medical problems, and it will be for the court to decide on an appropriate sentence armed with that information.

Still, looking at the nature of the offence, and the conduct of some politicians in a similar area, I suppose she might think “There but for the Grace of God”!