David Chator pleads guilty over MPs expenses; Wollas loses bid to overturn ban

[muriel_volestrangler]

2 ex-MPs go down today:

Chaytor had claimed £12,925 between 2005 and 2006 for renting a flat in Regency Street, near Westminster, which he owned the lease to - he produced a tenancy agreement falsely showing he was paying £1,175 a month rent.

He also falsely claimed £5,425 between 2007 and 2008 for renting a home in Castle Street, Bury, which was owned by his mother. He had produced a false tenancy agreement showing he was paying £775 a month.
...
A third charge related to falsely charging £1,950 for IT support services in May 2006 - money which was not paid to him. The charge said that he supplied two invoices from a man named Paul France for his professional services "when in fact the services had not been provided or charged for".

He had denied the charges but appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday to change his plea, having failed in a court bid to argue that expenses cases should be heard by Parliament, not the courts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11904007

Lord Justice Thomas, Mr Justice Tugendhat and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies concluded that statements made by Mr Woolas about Mr Watkins during May's general election "were not of a trivial nature".

The judges said that, although he was entitled to have one of the findings against him set aside, there had been "illegal practice" by Mr Woolas.

They said: "They were a serious personal attack on a candidate by saying he condoned violence by extremists and refused to condemn those who advocated violence."

Lord Justice Thomas said the court considered the "fair" order to make in relation to the costs of the judicial review was to "make no order as to costs".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11904630

Woolas continued to bleat about 'the will of the voters', implying that because he won the election, that overrides whatever he may have done to win it. But the wanker has admitted he has to give up now.

[LeftishBrit]

1. Glad to hear about Woolas

It may deter others of all parties from conducting vicious (and in this case racist) smear campaigns. Also he is a revolting character all round, as shown for example by his behaviour with regard to the Gurkhas.

I would imagine that the result in a by-election in a Labour/LibDem marginal seat at this time is pretty much a foregone conclusion: i.e. an increased majority for the Labour candidate, especially as whatever the faults of that candidate, they won't be Phil Woolas!

[Name removed]

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[Hopeless Romantic]

3. Good. On both counts