2017-05-02 23:40:38 +0100
To: Alison Saunders CB, The Director of Public Prosecutions, The Crown Prosecution Service
The right to know the outcome of Election Expense Fraud Allegations regardless of election rules
It is in the interest of the public that this legal issue be fully disclosed. As the matter DIRECTLY relates to appointment of the MPs in question by the public, making the public their essential employers, and hence we have the right to know if the people who work for us committed a crime to get that position! The Common Law must overrule any "election rules", as it is not in the common interest for this information, which may affect the outcome, to be withheld.
Criminal charges are at this very moment being considered by the Crown Prosecution Service against at least 30 individuals in the Conservative party. Many of them are currently MPs, many of them will be candidates in this election, and many of them could be re-elected. It can not be in the public interest to withhold key information; for true democracy politics must be transparent.
This information must be publicly disclosed as soon as the legal decision is reached, well in advance of 8th June - which public figures broke the law and committed election fraud? Or do the CPS want to send a clear public message that the Conservatives are above the law?
Thank you.
Why is this important?
A spokesperson for the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) confirmed to the Independent this week that charges would have to be made before the general election on 8 June. However, due to "election rules" the CPS may be unable to make a public announcement about any formal charges. The public may therefore end up being none the wiser if their prospective MP has been charged.
There are ongoing electoral fraud investigations against a substantial number of Conservative MPs. Not only do these allegations have pointed implications for this election, but there are also wider lessons on campaign spending that still need to be learnt.
Just last month the Electoral Commission handed out the largest fine in its history - £70,000 - to the Conservatives for violating electoral law. This came after a 13-month long investigation into the party’s campaign spending during by-elections in 2014 and the general election in 2015.
Far from this record fine marking the end of the saga, criminal charges are at this very moment being considered by the Crown Prosecution Service against at least 30 individuals in the Conservative party. Many of them are currently MPs, many of them will be candidates in this election, and many of them could be re-elected.
This can NOT be allowed to happen; we have a right to the information so that we can make a fully informed decision!
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/alexandra-runswick/election-expenses_b_16146174.html
