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Original poster

Tories fined a mere £70k for election fraud

33 replies

Graphista · 16/03/2017 10:18

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 10:18

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

OP posts:
Anon1234567890 · 16/03/2017 10:31

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!

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 10:35

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

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RortyCrankle · 16/03/2017 10:49

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

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 10:50

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

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mellongoose · 16/03/2017 13:02

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

TheNaze73 · 16/03/2017 13:04

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

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 13:12

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.

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mellongoose · 16/03/2017 13:16

I agree about the family members thing.

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 13:18

But not cheating on election rules?

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Thegirlinthefireplace · 16/03/2017 13:20

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 · 16/03/2017 13:21

Particular PART in the overall result that should have said

Anon1234567890 · 16/03/2017 13:37

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 · 16/03/2017 13:46

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

Very telling indeed.

Thegirlinthefireplace · 16/03/2017 14:30

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 · 16/03/2017 19:14

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.

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 19:18

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

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

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fakenamefornow · 16/03/2017 19:23

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

Everytimeref · 16/03/2017 19:28

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.

Original poster
Graphista · 16/03/2017 19:39

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!

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WhiskyTangoFoxtrot · 16/03/2017 19:55

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 · 16/03/2017 21:01

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

cdtaylornats · 16/03/2017 21:04

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 · 16/03/2017 21:13

£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 · 16/03/2017 21:14

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.