Tories fined a mere £70k for election fraud

[Graphista]

Even though the fraud involved them OVERspending £100k's!

Police investigations continuing so potentially prosecutions and by-elections could still happen - won't be holding my breath.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39289195

Disgusting! They basically bought the 2015 GE!

[Graphista]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39289195

[Anon1234567890]

Whats the big fuss? Technically they broke an accounting rule but they hardly bought the election. They did exactly the same as every other party does, they sent supporters around the country in a bus to promote their brand. Big whoop!

[Graphista]

The rules on what they can spend on election promotion are there so it's fair and democratic, they broke those rules - massively!

[RortyCrankle]

I don't care but them I''m a Conservative voter. It's not like they murdered anyone to win the election.

[Graphista]

No, no murder. Let's just ignore the people dying as a result of their policies though eh?

[mellongoose]

Lib dems and Labour also fined. But where's the headline in that?

[TheNaze73]

It's very telling that Labour didn't kick off about this.

[Graphista]

Any party guilty of this should be held accountable of course! Investigations so far though seem to be showing that tories are the worst offenders.

I am glad to see that MP's are to be stopped from hiring family members, again yes glad it's applying to all parties too.

[mellongoose]

I agree about the family members thing.

[Graphista]

But not cheating on election rules?

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Given that coverage is a massive factor and that coverage costs a lot of money I do think spend is a factor. If the other major parties over spent by similar amounts then it probably paid no particular pa in the overall result but things like this will have an impact on smaller parties that can't begin to afford to match these overspends in order to become visible, which does have an impact on our democracy.

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Particular PART in the overall result that should have said

[Anon1234567890]

they broke those rules - massively!

So did Labour and the Lib Dems, I think UKIP as well.

Seems like its a bit of a stupid rule. If you send a group of supporters to a city to campaign for your party, where are they supposed to sleep and eat, it all costs money!

[ShotsFired]

@TheNaze73 It's very telling that Labour didn't kick off about this.

Very telling indeed.

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Anon. So you think parties with very rich donors should be able to spend unlimited amounts on election campaigns? The point of the rule is a basic attempt to level the playing field so the richest party doesn't have an advantage by being able to afford a significantly higher level of exposure. You believe this is wrong?

[Anon1234567890]

No Thegirlinthefireplace that is not what I am saying. I am saying all parties have been doing this. Either we agree supporters are not allowed to go around the country supporting campaigns or we say its ok to house and feed campaigners. Personally I don't care either way, the rules just need to be clarified a little.

[Graphista]

Clarified how? These are not political innocents, they know the rules.

Do not spend more than the amount set - how is that ambiguous?

[fakenamefornow]

I agree. The fines are so low that they are not a deterrent , they can be just calculated in as a business expense.

[Everytimeref]

5 Tory MPs have been questioned by police under caution near me. The issue was shipping in supporters to leaflet on the battlebus and not declaring these costs. This is the largest fine they could impose and the worry is that rich parties will see the fines as extra expenses.

[Graphista]

MP's pay being so high was brought in as previously the pay was so low that ordinary people couldn't afford to be mp's ditto expenses but the whole financial side is now way out of hand.

We (as a country) need to get back to it being a proper level playing field. Away from career politicians with politicians treating political office as not only a job for life but one they can pass down to their children! They're not royalty but seem to think they're unimpeachable and untouchable!

[WhiskyTangoFoxtrot]

I've tried googling for the guidelines for size of fine, but didn't find it.

What is the range? And what size fines have been imposed before?

[cdtaylornats]

Basically the only difference is the Tories sent young party activists and Labour sent Corbyn

[cdtaylornats]

The issue was shipping in supporters to leaflet on the battlebus and not declaring these costs.

I can't see the costs being much and if we are about fairness should we limit the number of people leafleting to the number the smallest party has?

£70,000 is the maximum fine.

[VikingVolva]

£70,000 is the maximum fine

So the thread title is wrong, and should say "Tories fined the highest possible amount £70k for electoral fraud"

Will you be asking MNHQ to correct it, so the substitution of 'mere' where it shouldn't be 'maximum' does not continue as AstroTurf?

[Anon1234567890]

Clarified how? These are not political innocents, they know the rules

Well, either all parties knew the rule about external supporters and all parties broke them. Or no parties knew/misinterpreted the rule. We need clarity on whether or not external supporters for a constituency are allowed to campaign for their party and who picks up the tab for that.

Every party floods areas with supporters during elections. If you ban parties from feeding and housing them, then you will actually benefit richer parties who's supporters are able to pay for themselves to travel and stay in an area.