Harry Hayfield
Green
Cavalier Gentleman (as in 17th century Cavalier)
Posts: 2,922 
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Post by Harry Hayfield on Apr 28, 2022 9:43:04 GMT
We seem to have an election petition case in Selby. On the list tomorrow: is Honour Judge Saffman (Commissioner) Not before 10am Election Court M372/21 Babington and others v Jessica Kate Cooper and others Trial Representation of The People Act 1983. At Selby District Council Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 9FT Church Fenton Parish Council, North Yorkshire Relates to this parish election vote mix-up. So what changed from this: "A total of 993 votes were cast in the Church Fenton Parish Council election, with Joanna Mason elected alongside Stewart Ferris and Jessica Cooper. Ms Mason said: "I think it was plain and simple incompetence rather than an attempt to meddle with the system, so from that point of view it is far less worrying than if it were a deliberate act." She added all the candidates had agreed to let the result stand and not launch a petition to challenge it" to a formal election petition? |
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Post by johnloony on Apr 28, 2022 10:26:49 GMT
We seem to have an election petition case in Selby. On the list tomorrow: is Honour Judge Saffman (Commissioner) Not before 10am Election Court M372/21 Babington and others v Jessica Kate Cooper and others Trial Representation of The People Act 1983. At Selby District Council Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 9FT Church Fenton Parish Council, North Yorkshire Relates to this parish election vote mix-up. So what changed from this: "A total of 993 votes were cast in the Church Fenton Parish Council election, with Joanna Mason elected alongside Stewart Ferris and Jessica Cooper. Ms Mason said: "I think it was plain and simple incompetence rather than an attempt to meddle with the system, so from that point of view it is far less worrying than if it were a deliberate act." She added all the candidates had agreed to let the result stand and not launch a petition to challenge it" to a formal election petition? The petition was brought by four electors in the ward (as they allowed to do), not by any of the candidates. |
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ricmk
Lib Dem
Posts: 2,615
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Post by ricmk on Apr 29, 2022 10:01:37 GMT
That judgement doesn't make comfortable reading for the returning officer and Chief Exec of Selby Borough Council.
Yes the overall petition was refused but only because the mistakes could not be seen to put the result in doubt. But the judge had to address poor decisions over spoilt ballot papers, broken seals on list of ballot papers issued, allegations of poor training of staff, a 'laissez-faire' approach and lack of direction to voters (that final point is disputed and probably insignificant.) There's a lengthy discussion about whether all the issues emerging during the investigation should be taken to imply there are more they haven't found.
She initially says she will support the petition, then opposes it, and finally gets costs awarded against the Council. Not a good look in any way. The judgement is only in the Council's favour as the judge is satisfied that the issues wouldn't make up the 15 vote deficit for the losing candidate.
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maxque
Non-Aligned
Posts: 9,299
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Post by maxque on Apr 30, 2022 20:39:34 GMT
That judgement doesn't make comfortable reading for the returning officer and Chief Exec of Selby Borough Council. Yes the overall petition was refused but only because the mistakes could not be seen to put the result in doubt. But the judge had to address poor decisions over spoilt ballot papers, broken seals on list of ballot papers issued, allegations of poor training of staff, a 'laissez-faire' approach and lack of direction to voters (that final point is disputed and probably insignificant.) There's a lengthy discussion about whether all the issues emerging during the investigation should be taken to imply there are more they haven't found. She initially says she will support the petition, then opposes it, and finally gets costs awarded against the Council. Not a good look in any way. The judgement is only in the Council's favour as the judge is satisfied that the issues wouldn't make up the 15 vote deficit for the losing candidate. And given that was determined by looking up the specific votes that were casted by accident (by using their verification numbers), so there was no way for anyone to know in advance the result of the lawsuit. |
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ricmk
Lib Dem
Posts: 2,615
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Post by ricmk on May 24, 2022 3:02:57 GMT
We appear to have missed a petition arising out of the Hartlepool council election last year. Outgoing Independent Union (elected as UKIP) councillor Bob Buchan lost his seat in Fens and Greatham ward to Labour last May by 10 votes. He launched a case alleging false statements by the Labour campaign. The Court ruled that the false statements did not relate to Buchan's personal character or conduct. More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60176831A quick postscript to this one. Buchan, now with the Conservative nomination, won the seat this month against Elliott in a re-match, although it was still close: Fens and Greatham
Bob Buchan (Conservative) 964 Jennifer Elliott (Labour) 922 Appreciate from the earlier discussion that I'm in a minority here, but as far as I'm concerned there's some justice in that outcome. |
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Post by andrewteale on Jul 15, 2022 9:00:09 GMT
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Post by Defenestrated Fipplebox on Jul 15, 2022 9:03:52 GMT
How's that going to change influence via postal voting?
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pl
Non-Aligned
Posts: 1,664
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Post by pl on Jul 15, 2022 9:08:53 GMT
Absolutely critical piece of work. Anyone who has seen the problem first hand in places like Tower Hamlets will know this is essential. It's not a problem in many parts of the country, but where it is a problem, the returning officers frequently haven't got a grip on it for a multitude of the usual reasons. The police are fairly poor on this too. No, it doesn't solve postal vote issues, but one thing at a time! |
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Post by greatkingrat on Jul 15, 2022 10:07:49 GMT
Just making something an offence won't necessarily stop it, I imagine it would be difficult to prove someone is being influenced by someone else.
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Post by johnloony on Jul 15, 2022 13:59:21 GMT
If it did become a specific criminal offence, it would make it easier (psychologically) for the police to pull their fingers out and actually start enforcing it properly, instead of standing idly by like lemons. I guess that a large part of the problem at the moment is that a lot of police officers, electoral staff, presiding officers, are not clear about the law, and are too sensitive to cultural differences, so they hesitate in enforcing it.
If it is written in clear terms in a specific law, then it will be easier for Priti Patel or Kemi Badenoch or whoever to storm into the polling station and hit the offender on the head with a frozen-solid cucumber (metaphorically).
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Post by iainbhx on Feb 4, 2023 15:52:12 GMT
Looks like the election petition in Aston Ward, Birmingham MBC has collapsed after the defence produced evidence showing the Labour candidate involved in precisely what they said he was involved in. |
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Post by johnhemming on Feb 4, 2023 16:05:04 GMT
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Post by johnhemming on Feb 8, 2023 10:09:20 GMT
The election court sits today at 10.30 in court 301 of the Bull St complex. Listening to preparation it will probably go into the afternoon, but I need to leave early so I probably won't live post it because it would only be a partial report.
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Post by Strontium Dog on Feb 8, 2023 12:11:28 GMT
I suppose the question now must be, why don't the police pull their fingers out of their arses and start making some arrests on suspicion of treating.
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aargauer
Conservative
Posts: 5,979
Member is Online
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Post by aargauer on Feb 8, 2023 12:12:28 GMT
It takes some nerve for Afzal to bring this case when he indisputably the guilty party - he deserves to get absolutely roasted.
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aargauer
Conservative
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Post by aargauer on Feb 8, 2023 12:14:27 GMT
I suppose the question now must be, why don't the police pull their fingers out of their arses and start making some arrests on suspicion of treating. Presumably this is now a police matter? |
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Post by iainbhx on Feb 8, 2023 13:54:49 GMT
I suppose the question now must be, why don't the police pull their fingers out of their arses and start making some arrests on suspicion of treating. West Midlands Police take an election offence seriously. Not a chance of that happening. |
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Feb 8, 2023 14:31:47 GMT
Given the likely costs order, and the high degree of deterrent publicity, together with the very low level of the crime (small boxes of dates), I doubt the public interest test for a prosecution would be met.
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Post by grahammurray on Feb 8, 2023 14:38:27 GMT
Given the likely costs order, and the high degree of deterrent publicity, together with the very low level of the crime (small boxes of dates), I doubt the public interest test for a prosecution would be met. Not perjury or vexacious litigation, then? |
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Post by johnhemming on Feb 8, 2023 14:41:46 GMT
Given the likely costs order, and the high degree of deterrent publicity, together with the very low level of the crime (small boxes of dates), I doubt the public interest test for a prosecution would be met. The crime is more relating to the providing of false statements the court which have been signed with a statement of truth. Treating with dates is much less significant. I left after the morning session. An initial judgment was expected at 2pm. |
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