Thursday, October 14, 2010

Just Askin'...

Could someone explain why the Labour Party has withdrawn the whip from Denis MacShane, and at the same time promoted Phil Woolas to a frontbench post?

Just askin'.

MacShane has not been arrested. He has been charged with nothing, and frankly I doubt he ever will be. Yet Woolas is the first MP in decades to be up before an Election Court. Neither have been found guilty, and may never be, but it does seem that the Labour Party is applying some very odd rules of natural justice here.

11 comments:

Glyn H said...

I had some dealings with Woolas; and he swore black was white. What their legislation said was not what they meant it seemed. Not in position to challenge this (financially) I was obligeded to accept; but I came to understand that the Blair government was dishonest. But nothing like as dishonest/bent as as ludicrous Brown administration!

Man in a Shed said...

Maybe Woolas has the full support of the Labour party for his activities ?

David Boothroyd said...

Um, utter rubbish. Any elector or any opposing candidate can lodge an election petition and force an election court. In the past 20 years the following MPs have been taken to an election court: David Maclean, Dudley Fishburn, Dr Joe Hendron, Mark Oaten, and Michelle Gildernew (twice).

Jimmy said...

I've not heard of anyone who's happy with the appointment. Right now Woolas is about as popular as Anthrax. The Court case is neither here nor there, those leaflets were simply appalling.

Matt said...

David, I think you might need to do some research.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/politics/s/1322165_mp_phil_woolas_sought_to_make_white_folk_angry_in_election_campaign

The last time an election result was challenged on the basis of corrupt practices was back in 1911 and was successful.

Cynic said...

Asthetically MacShane's garage shows a total lapse of taste. In Wallace's New Acme Labour Party (Washes Whiter, Looks Brighter) that's more than enough for a sacking

Now let the terror begin

Unknown said...

Just doing what the Unions told them to do, surely?
Still waiting for Laws (£42k), G Brown(£12k) etc to be arrested.

talwin said...

Woolas's promotion? Probably all part of Miliband's 'New Generation' thing.

Jess The Dog said...

Why won't MacShane be charged? Looks like he's been submitting repeated claims for non-existent or dubious services. This isn't just personal greed or money-grabbing....there will be an element of trying to squeeze every penny possible out of the system for political spending advantage.

It isn't acceptable for an MP to run a constituency office out their home. They should be as accessible to the constituency as possible, in the centre of a major town with other civic functions. To do so otherwise is a disgrace and an insult to public service.

Jess The Dog said...

Why won't MacShane be charged? Looks like he's been submitting repeated claims for non-existent or dubious services. This isn't just personal greed or money-grabbing....there will be an element of trying to squeeze every penny possible out of the system for political spending advantage.

It isn't acceptable for an MP to run a constituency office out their home. They should be as accessible to the constituency as possible, in the centre of a major town with other civic functions. To do so otherwise is a disgrace and an insult to public service.

David Boothroyd said...

Matt, I'm afraid that I have to tell you I know better than what appears in the Manchester Evening News. What they write is completely incorrect. The last time an election result was challenged on the basis of corrupt practices by a candidate was Dr Joe Hendron in Belfast West in 1992 (the challenge failed). The last time an election result was challenged on the basis of false statement of fact about the personal character of a candidate was David Maclean in Penrith and the Border in 1983 (that challenge failed too).

Other newspapers have said the same but a frequently made mistake is still a mistake. They are the ones who should do more research.