I'm not sure I agree about that swatantra nandanwar.

Although in this case I think the sitting MP should be slung out on his ear, it still goes against the general principle that courts should stay out of elections.

The court will decide whether Woolas committed a corrupt practice. If he hasn't, he'll stay. If he has, he'll be barred from public office. As a result of that he will no longer be an MP. Hence there being a byelection.

There's a world of difference between that and a judge or pair (couple? brace?) of judges getting rid of one fellow and appointing another. MPs are elected, not appointed.

Let's hope that the former Minister for Racism gets his just deserts.

Well said Dave Wearing.

Phil Woolas has dug a bit of a hole for himself here, and has a few uncomfortable months ahead of him. It sounds as if he has been a bit of an arse in the last few years, as subtle as a breeze block in his re-election tactics.

What's the latest on Goldsmith and his jackets? Or has it been drowned in expensive litigation and being suffocated for media reporting?

Coiurt appearance is happening a few doors from me

will be a 5 day hearing they reckon

off on thursday may get a look in

If he loses I thought it'd be a re run ?

Don't care who wins or loses here

they're both appalling . I would have thought the lib dems would lose by more votes on a re run

seeing as how the worse lie was their no cuts bull

This type of electioneering is sickening. Well done NS for mentioning the case.

There is a political argument, and there is photoshopping some London-based criminals to make it look as though they're somehow linked to your Oldham-based opponent.
The racial aspects of Woolas' campaign were exceedingly distasteful. I'm not sure that's the illegal bit though.

I'm not sure there are many politicians who wouldn't take legal action if they were accused of taking brown envelopes from murky foreign businessmen, smuggling it into the country and illegally funding his campaign with it.

Sorry, it's Watkins' side's opening, not Woolas'.

"Mr Woolas made these false statements as part of a series of reckless and irresponsible steps in this campaign - using doctored photographs, misrepresenting facts, stooping even to fomenting racial divisions and tensions."

Coming on the outside, Kashif Ali could very well be a winner in a re-run. Tory vote up almost 4,000 on 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldham_East_and_Saddleworth_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Wonder if he was an air-drop candidate by Dave? Oh dear, looks like it, quote,
"When Mr Ali was selected as the Conservative candidate last year, the party’s local constituency chair Barbara Jackson stood down, complaining Mr Ali had been forced on them by the central party. However, Mr Ali said today that “just two people” left the association during the row, and he insisted the “vast majority” of Conservatives in the area are behind him."
link, http://www.saddleworthnews.com/?p=1358

@Sam. The Party has always contained a small element of supporters that would have more affinity with the the BNP and UKIP than Labour, but they've been either too lazy or too tribal to their working class roots to actually vote other than Labour. I'm pretty sure you've come across the type. But now that they the Party has been cleansed of that very small element, it would be better if they didn't return. The Party is a lot better off without them.

Ditto, Attrition and Dave Wearing. Let's hope it's the end for another Nu£abour spiv.

Well I can see it - it is an SE England NE England stistch up.

Plain as day with that cheat Zac about.

Thatcher stole millions from Northern England in her time, millions, yes fecking millions.

And where was the detail on the sale of the Stretford/St.Pancreas - Channel Tunnel details in the press, Dave? Behind Times paywall, with your mates?

Funny you get let of for things in London that woyld put you away for five years in Northern England.

People need to be told about these carry ons by you judges.

Ha Ha! The Lib Dems complaining about "dirty" tactics!

NS should run a story about all the s*it they have pulled over the years, particularly in by-election campaigns.

@jeremiah

Exactly what I was thinking!!! Their own election handbook tells them to lie and cheat!

If Woolas is on trial over this then so should Nick Clegg for his 35 metre squared VAT bombshell billboard!!!

Goodness. I think this is why the Labour Party is often accused of being tribalist. As Woolas said of Mandy after the Little&Sadd byelection "He might be a bstard, but he's our bstard".

Is it not possible, regardless of what you think the opposition has done in the past, of saying "No, actually, he's stepped over a line here. He can't stay in our party?"

Do we have to wait for an official verdict before the Labour Party will do anything? Is the racism not enough to see him expelled? I thought that the left were meant to be hot on equality rights? Is that just another myth that's been shattered before my very eyes?

After all, equating all muslims with "mad moslem" terrorists isn't exactly going to help race relations in a town known for race riots. But still, gotta "get those white folk angry"...