Election court sits over Phil Woolas result in Oldham

[T_i_B]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11279956

A defeated Liberal Democrat candidate is mounting a legal challenge to the re-election of former immigration minister Phil Woolas as an MP.

Elwyn Watkins is asking two High Court judges to order a re-run of May's Oldham East and Saddleworth poll. He claims the general election vote was swayed by Labour leaflets containing false claims about foreign donations and support from Muslim extremists.

Mr Woolas, who won with a majority of just 103 votes, denies the allegations. He says he will "robustly defend" himself.

If found guilty, Mr Woolas could be fined and barred from public office.

[fedsron2us]

1. A case of being careful what you wish for

I am not sure that a by election in a Labour marginal is likely to go quite the way Elwyn Watkins hopes.

[T_i_B]

2. Only 1 way to find out....

However, there is always the possibility that having been happy to have a slimeball like Woolas representing them for many years, Labour might be damaged goods to many people in such a by-election.

Anyway, the matter is now in the hands of the courts.

[fedsron2us]

3. Labour are clearly not as 'damaged' in the eyes of the electorate

as the Liberal Democrats if recent local government by elections in places such as Norwich and Exeter are any pointer.

Many Liberal Democrat voters appear to have swapped to the Greens

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-11255259

This looks like the shape of things to come.

Oh the irony if the Liberal Dems get electoral reform but then get creamed at the polls by the Greens

[T_i_B]

5. The Lib Dems great gamble

The Lib Dems great hope is that they can get PR, and then continue to hold the balance of power in government even if they suffer heavy losses at the polls.

[LeftishBrit]

4. I doubt it too...

but this challenge might be what's needed for the Labour Party to deselect Woolas and put someone halfway decent in his place.