Sunday, September 27, 2009

Labour MP Lose Sex Discrimination Tribunal

Stephen Hesford resigned as a PPS at the Law Officers' Department this week, over the refusal of Baroness Scotland to resign. Today's News of the World provides a rather contrasting picture of this 'man of principle'. (sadly the story doesn't seem to be online)

One of his staff has taken him to an industrial tribunal after she was sacked as his constituency press officer. Mr Hesford failed to respond to her allegations of sex discrimination due to what he termed his "heavy workload". He was found guilty in his absence and has now launched an appeal. He now stands accused of trying to drag out the proceedings. A friend of his former staffer, Jacqueline Snell, told the NOTW...
He's doing everything in his power to delay these proceedings and drag them out. He knows her background and he knows that she cannot afford to keep fighting.

Those of us who have witnessed Mr Hesford's tactics in fighting Esther McVey would, I am sure, happily start a fighting fund for Ms Snell if her finances proved to be an insurmountable barrier.

This isn't the first time Mr Hesford has been in trouble. In 1997 he was was reprimanded for failing to turn up for a court case.

If there's one result I am looking forward to on election night, it's hearing that Esther McVey has won. She's going to be an absolute star in Parliament.

10 comments:

  1. 'An absolute star in Parliament...'

    Ah, the Dale Kiss of Death to her political aspirations there.

    Esther, love, you'll want to be a bit circumspect about compliments from Tory bloggers. It never ends well - just look at Nadine.

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  2. "In 1997 he was was reprimanded for failing to turn up for a court case." I wonder if he ever failed to turn up to claim his expenses as a MP. Never know your luck.

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  3. Too bad he didn't have the good sense to pay her off.....

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  4. Actually I'm glad you mention Tribunals, because the system of Employment Tribunals is a complete and utter farce when there is a little guy versus a rich guy (or so called wealthy corporation) This needs reform. It ends up with the little guy not being able to afford to pursue the rich guy.

    But I digress of course....

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  5. If Hesford could not be bothered to turn up for the hearing, and found guilty in his absence, he should not be allowed the opportunity to appeal.

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  6. "He was found guilty" can you be found guilty by an ET?

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  7. ex Wirral ResidentSeptember 27, 2009 4:46 pm

    also the day before he was elected in 1997 his agent had to print an apology to his opponent, David Hunt for a leaflet they had distributed in the Constituency.

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  8. "Those of us who have witnessed Mr Hesford's tactics in fighting Esther McVey "

    What, did he libel her or something?

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  9. Telegraph 17 April 2005....
    Start Quote
    "At least one MP fighting to retain his seat has already succumbed to the temptation of negative campaigning. Stephen Hesford, the Labour member for Wirral West, has dismissed his Conservative rival as "a bimbo". His opponent, Esther McVey, a former breakfast television presenter, is easy prey for such low tactics. Quoting a self-deprecating remark that she once made - "As a blonde Scouser, no one takes me seriously" - Mr Hesford has accused her of going into politics merely in order to "get back on television". Most damning of all, he warns that she is "38, single and unmarried"."
    End Quote


    Hesford is a nasty piece of work. I have seen him outside a public meeting telling a group of ladies that he was "not going to waste my time on you little peolpe" And in case he sues I have it on a mobile phone recording as I was standing necxt to him in the West Kirby Concourse after the meeting!

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  10. Please post the footage on Youtube - thanks.

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