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TWO Recent examples of election malpractice Example - 1 By SUE
MADIGAN THE Burnley leader of the British National Party, Stephen Smith, has begun a three-month jail term for allowing false nomination papers in local elections. The 41-year-old, of West View, Overtown, Burnley, pleaded guilty to six charges when he appeared before Burnley magistrates in December. When he appeared for sentence on Wednesday – with Anti-Nazi League members protesting outside – he was jailed for six months for each of the offences to run concurrently, with three months suspended. Smith is believed to be the first person in this country to be prosecuted under the Representation of People Act – a new piece of legislation which came into force last February. He is now disqualified for the next five years from standing as a Member of Parliament or for any elected office. Mr Simon Orme (prosecuting) told magistrates that as an organiser for the BNP he was sent nomination papers for all the prospective party candidates. Each candidate needed 10 signatures — a proposer, a seconder and eight others. Smith delivered the completed forms to the returning officer. On May 10th a number of people saw their names and signatures on the forms and complained they had been provided without their consent. A total of 12 forged signatures were discovered. Before Smith's lawyer Mr Dylan Bradshaw started his defence, he asked the magistrates to remember they were in a court of law and the case had nothing to do with political beliefs. He said: "The fact we are acting on behalf of the BNP is completely irrelevant. You must put that to the back of your minds and dismiss any views you have of that party." Mr Bradshaw described Smith as well educated with his own successful accountancy business. His client did a lot of work for charity and was a local historian with his own heritage centre and museum, adding: "There is more to this man than the face of a political party." Mr Bradshaw went on to say as party co-ordinator, Smith took responsibility for making sure the completed nomination papers were delivered to Burnley Borough Council by the closing date. Thinking he could not get the papers ready in time he foolishly, stupidly and illegally put names on the papers, which at a glance looked acceptable. He added: "The defendant never intended to affect the results, all he wanted was to get local support and give the electorate the chance to vote. He knows what he did was wrong and regrets his activities. In future he will contain his enthusiasm." Example - 2 From http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk VOTE-RIGGERS Who used the names of dead people to help swing a ballot have been convicted after a major police investigation. Detectives quizzed 190 people after voters presenting proxy votes at last year's local elections in the Oldham wards of Coldhurst, Werneth and St Mary's discovered they had already been cast. Police later described the nine month inquiry as........ ''the most complicated and wide-ranging investigation of its kind ever mounted in this country''. Twelve people were prosecuted for personation offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983, and 11 pleaded guilty at Tameside Magistrates' Court. Liberal Democrat councillor Mohib Uddin, 27, elected to be tried by a jury and was acquitted at Manchester Crown Court in May. Coun Uddin's brother, polling agent Nashir Uddin, 18, of Widdop Street, Oldham, was sentenced to 100 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE, and ordered to pay £118 costs after pleading guilty. Other defendants who admitted personation were:1. Montaz Ali, 37, of Middleton Road, Westwood, (120 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE £75 costs); 2. Afsor Ali, 28, of Orchid Close, Westwood and 3. Shahinur Roshid, 26, of Davies Street, Oldham, (100 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE, £118 costs); 4. Waseem Mohammed, 23, of Greenhill Terrace, Glodwick, (60 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE); 5. Gous Ali, 30, of Hurst Street, Oldham, and 6. Ansir Moahmood, 19, of Hoyle Avenue, Primrose Bank, Oldham (100 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE, £118 costs); 7. Zabor Ali, 27, of Colwyn Street, Westwood, (120 hours COMMUNITY SERVICE, £118 costs); 8. and Qadeer hussein, 31, of Ronald Street, Clarksfield, Oldham, whose case was adjourned until August 16. |
