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Are British elections being stolen? Are British elections being stolen?
(about 5 hours later)
In the mid-80s, when I was a junior producer on Channel 4 News, I had dinner in the midst of a byelection with a longstanding Liberal agent. He regaled me with all the tricks his party used in order to get round the strict limits on local election spending. Naively perhaps, I was truly shocked. Here were parliamentary candidates breaking the law to secure election to Westminster. During that decade the Liberals and their allies the Social Democrats often broke spending rules.In the mid-80s, when I was a junior producer on Channel 4 News, I had dinner in the midst of a byelection with a longstanding Liberal agent. He regaled me with all the tricks his party used in order to get round the strict limits on local election spending. Naively perhaps, I was truly shocked. Here were parliamentary candidates breaking the law to secure election to Westminster. During that decade the Liberals and their allies the Social Democrats often broke spending rules.
By the 90s, New Labour – flush with money under Tony Blair – were the big transgressors. Indeed, I remember doorstepping Blair over the amount of money spent in the Wirral South byelection. I later learned it was around £500,000, about 50 times the legal limit.By the 90s, New Labour – flush with money under Tony Blair – were the big transgressors. Indeed, I remember doorstepping Blair over the amount of money spent in the Wirral South byelection. I later learned it was around £500,000, about 50 times the legal limit.
There could even be byelections in some seats, which Theresa May can ill afford with her small majorityThere could even be byelections in some seats, which Theresa May can ill afford with her small majority
By 2014, when the Tories were desperate to stop Ukip winning three byelections – in Newark, Clacton and Rochester and Strood – the Tories seem to have become the creative accountant. And I confronted the new MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick, about his campaign expenses the day after he was elected.By 2014, when the Tories were desperate to stop Ukip winning three byelections – in Newark, Clacton and Rochester and Strood – the Tories seem to have become the creative accountant. And I confronted the new MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick, about his campaign expenses the day after he was elected.
But it was in January 2016 that the Electoral Commission published its national database of spending at the last general election. Buried in the mountains of receipts and invoices was one that stood out: a cost declared for the Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate which would ultimately set the clock ticking on the Conservative election expenses scandal.But it was in January 2016 that the Electoral Commission published its national database of spending at the last general election. Buried in the mountains of receipts and invoices was one that stood out: a cost declared for the Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate which would ultimately set the clock ticking on the Conservative election expenses scandal.
I’d been fortunate enough once to stay at that fine establishment, and visited Ramsgate again during the election campaign when I went to report on Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s bid to win a seat in parliament. It was there I met Henry Macrory, the affable veteran Conservative communications adviser who told me he’d been drafted in to work on Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay’s election campaign against Farage.I’d been fortunate enough once to stay at that fine establishment, and visited Ramsgate again during the election campaign when I went to report on Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s bid to win a seat in parliament. It was there I met Henry Macrory, the affable veteran Conservative communications adviser who told me he’d been drafted in to work on Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay’s election campaign against Farage.
Also on deck were Theresa May’s joint chief of staff Nick Timothy, her political secretary Stephen Parkinson and the former Iraq war tank commander Chris Brannigan, who is now the prime minister’s government relations director in Downing Street.Also on deck were Theresa May’s joint chief of staff Nick Timothy, her political secretary Stephen Parkinson and the former Iraq war tank commander Chris Brannigan, who is now the prime minister’s government relations director in Downing Street.
So when the party declared a bill for £14,213 at the hotel as part of its national spending in its national declaration, we began to suspect that all was not as it seemed. The Tories stuck doggedly to their insistence that the bill was for their national campaign team. But who runs a national campaign from a hotel in Ramsgate? On Channel 4 News that night, I pointed out that the bill looked like “creative accounting”. “If these bills were regarded as a local expense – which I think a lot of experts think they should be – that would have meant that Craig Mackinlay may have spent twice as much as the legal limit,” I said.So when the party declared a bill for £14,213 at the hotel as part of its national spending in its national declaration, we began to suspect that all was not as it seemed. The Tories stuck doggedly to their insistence that the bill was for their national campaign team. But who runs a national campaign from a hotel in Ramsgate? On Channel 4 News that night, I pointed out that the bill looked like “creative accounting”. “If these bills were regarded as a local expense – which I think a lot of experts think they should be – that would have meant that Craig Mackinlay may have spent twice as much as the legal limit,” I said.
That bill would lead the Channel 4 News investigations unit into what has been one of the most complex, involved and difficult investigations we have ever conducted and what in turn became the biggest election inquiry in the history of the Electoral Commission and the police.That bill would lead the Channel 4 News investigations unit into what has been one of the most complex, involved and difficult investigations we have ever conducted and what in turn became the biggest election inquiry in the history of the Electoral Commission and the police.
Over the past year our programme’s investigative team has unpicked this story receipt by receipt. Our own “crack team” of Ed Fraser, Job Rabkin, Guy Basnett, Ed Howker and Andy Lee, has analysed hundreds of pages of mundane paperwork and spreadsheets. They have sifted through tens of thousands of social media posts, and waded clause by clause through the dry plains of electoral law.Over the past year our programme’s investigative team has unpicked this story receipt by receipt. Our own “crack team” of Ed Fraser, Job Rabkin, Guy Basnett, Ed Howker and Andy Lee, has analysed hundreds of pages of mundane paperwork and spreadsheets. They have sifted through tens of thousands of social media posts, and waded clause by clause through the dry plains of electoral law.
Backed by the Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear, we have travelled the country from St Ives to Cumbria and chased down some of the most powerful people in the land.Backed by the Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear, we have travelled the country from St Ives to Cumbria and chased down some of the most powerful people in the land.
All the while, despite dozens of our reports, this a scandal that was largely left to Channel 4 News and social media to champion. With the exception of the BBC’s Daily Politics Show and a couple of pieces in the Daily Mirror, Guardian and Daily Mail, on the whole, the main news organisations in this country neglected to touch this story. All that changed when Gloucestershire police became the first of more than a dozen police forces to launch an investigation into electoral fraud last May.All the while, despite dozens of our reports, this a scandal that was largely left to Channel 4 News and social media to champion. With the exception of the BBC’s Daily Politics Show and a couple of pieces in the Daily Mirror, Guardian and Daily Mail, on the whole, the main news organisations in this country neglected to touch this story. All that changed when Gloucestershire police became the first of more than a dozen police forces to launch an investigation into electoral fraud last May.
We have uncovered how the Tories spent tens of thousands on hotel accommodation for staff during the 2014 byelections in Newark, Rochester and Strood and Clacton. We discovered thousands more spent in South Thanet, at a nearby Premier Inn, and even a modest enough local youth hostel which went undeclared.We have uncovered how the Tories spent tens of thousands on hotel accommodation for staff during the 2014 byelections in Newark, Rochester and Strood and Clacton. We discovered thousands more spent in South Thanet, at a nearby Premier Inn, and even a modest enough local youth hostel which went undeclared.
And we revealed almost £40,000 the party spent putting up activists who were bussed to marginal seats on the now notorious BattleBus campaign which was never declared.And we revealed almost £40,000 the party spent putting up activists who were bussed to marginal seats on the now notorious BattleBus campaign which was never declared.
Today the Electoral Commission, which started its own investigation after our reports were aired, published its findings. It’s complex. But I suggest that if you at all value democracy in this country you take the time to read these damning 38 pages. The questions we had been asking from the start have finally been answered. The commission found that the Conservatives did break election laws by failing to properly declare their election spending. On Thursday the Electoral Commission, which started its own investigation after our reports were aired, published its findings. It’s complex. But I suggest that if you at all value democracy in this country you take the time to read these damning 38 pages. The questions we had been asking from the start have finally been answered. The commission found that the Conservatives did break election laws by failing to properly declare their election spending.
The party’s then treasurer and chief executive, Simon Day, has been referred to the Metropolitan police. Separately, 12 police forces have now sent files directly to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether to bring charges against up to 20 sitting Conservative MPs, and more could do so in the coming days.The party’s then treasurer and chief executive, Simon Day, has been referred to the Metropolitan police. Separately, 12 police forces have now sent files directly to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether to bring charges against up to 20 sitting Conservative MPs, and more could do so in the coming days.
We are now looking at the possibility that Tory MPs in some of the most marginal constituencies could be charged and tried for breaking the law. There could even be byelections in some seats, which Theresa May can ill afford with her small majority.We are now looking at the possibility that Tory MPs in some of the most marginal constituencies could be charged and tried for breaking the law. There could even be byelections in some seats, which Theresa May can ill afford with her small majority.
Given the scale and forensic nature of our evidence, and that gathered by the Electoral Commission and the police, it would be extraordinary if this was the end of the matter. Yet if we value our democracy it’s vital that the laws that protect it are enforced.Given the scale and forensic nature of our evidence, and that gathered by the Electoral Commission and the police, it would be extraordinary if this was the end of the matter. Yet if we value our democracy it’s vital that the laws that protect it are enforced.