|
Post by Defenestrated Fipplebox on May 10, 2024 10:27:06 GMT
Nick Sandford, the former councillor in Paston and Walton who lost by 5 votes, has accused his opponent of treating voters with ice cream. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hwpggpFrom that clip, the Conservative candidate's description seems to be: - he did buy people ice cream - they were children - he posted about doing so on a community page that he runs to "keep residents up to date with what's going on in Paston & Walton" - the police decided no further action was going to be taken It seems to me that this could potentially be within the definition of treating - it doesn't require that the items are provided to the voters themselves, just that they are provided "for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting". In any event, presumably since the police didn't feel further action was necessary, an an election petition on this basis would not be possible? What a sore loser. It proves the electorate were right to vote him out.
|
|
|
Post by East Anglian Lefty on May 10, 2024 13:36:19 GMT
Nick Sandford, the former councillor in Paston and Walton who lost by 5 votes, has accused his opponent of treating voters with ice cream. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hwpggpFrom that clip, the Conservative candidate's description seems to be: - he did buy people ice cream - they were children - he posted about doing so on a community page that he runs to "keep residents up to date with what's going on in Paston & Walton" - the police decided no further action was going to be taken It seems to me that this could potentially be within the definition of treating - it doesn't require that the items are provided to the voters themselves, just that they are provided "for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting". In any event, presumably since the police didn't feel further action was necessary, an an election petition on this basis would not be possible? The police frequently refuse to take action over things that are obviously crimes.
|
|
|
Post by carolus on May 10, 2024 13:43:57 GMT
From that clip, the Conservative candidate's description seems to be: - he did buy people ice cream - they were children - he posted about doing so on a community page that he runs to "keep residents up to date with what's going on in Paston & Walton" - the police decided no further action was going to be taken It seems to me that this could potentially be within the definition of treating - it doesn't require that the items are provided to the voters themselves, just that they are provided "for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting". In any event, presumably since the police didn't feel further action was necessary, an an election petition on this basis would not be possible? The police frequently refuse to take action over things that are obviously crimes. Yes, I didn't mean to suggest that was definitive on whether or not there was a crime, but rather to question whether a petition could occur (or indeed have any prospect of success) once that has happened. I don't know the answer.
|
|
maxque
Non-Aligned
Posts: 9,231
|
Post by maxque on May 10, 2024 13:45:00 GMT
Didn't something similar happened in Birmingham with figs?
|
|
|
Post by carolus on May 10, 2024 13:56:24 GMT
Didn't something similar happened in Birmingham with figs? That was rather more bizarre - a candidate who had narrowly lost brought a petition on the basis of false claims by the winners that he had attempted to bribe electors with dates. He then withdrew the petition after video footage appeared showing him handing over packs of dates to electors. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/ex-lord-mayor-accused-bribing-26151897
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on May 10, 2024 14:00:32 GMT
This would be treating also would it not?
|
|
maxque
Non-Aligned
Posts: 9,231
|
Post by maxque on May 10, 2024 15:32:40 GMT
This would be treating also would it not? I suspect it may, but nobody is going to launch a petition given the margin.
|
|
Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 15,745
|
Post by Sibboleth on May 10, 2024 15:35:50 GMT
I tend to find that treating is worth keeping an eye out for and to take serious because if a candidate is willing to do that, what else are they willing to do?
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on May 10, 2024 16:33:39 GMT
This would be treating also would it not? I suspect it may, but nobody is going to launch a petition given the margin. It's a criminal offence regardless
|
|
maxque
Non-Aligned
Posts: 9,231
|
Post by maxque on May 10, 2024 17:03:15 GMT
I suspect it may, but nobody is going to launch a petition given the margin. It's a criminal offence regardless It is, but it is unlikely the police will do anything about it, they are extremely reluctant to involve themselves in electoral crimes. See also Conservative Party campaign expenses in the North West, 2015.
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on May 10, 2024 17:06:39 GMT
It's a criminal offence regardless It is, but it is unlikely the police will do anything about it, they are extremely reluctant to involve themselves in electoral crimes. FTFY
|
|
Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 15,745
|
Post by Sibboleth on May 10, 2024 19:51:32 GMT
It's beyond a joke. The sheer amount of open drug dealing you see these days - I don't mean at the retail end either.
|
|