The Don
07-01-2015, 04:41 PM
Three UKIP members forged dozens of signatures on electoral forms, court hears
http://www.edp24.co.uk/polopoly_fs/1.3905653.1420549654!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg
Matthew Smith, 27, the Norfolk County Council member for Gorleston St Andrews - who had been selected to stand for parliament in Great Yarmouth at the next general election, is one of three men standing trial at Norwich Crown Court over the alleged electoral fraud.
The charges relate to county council elections in the Yarmouth area in May 2013, when Smith stood for election and acted as UKIP’s electoral agent.
Today, prosecutor Brett Weaver outlined evidence of forged signatures on seven out of eight forms submitted by the party in that campaign.
He added: “These defendants were engaged in an electoral fraud on a significant scale either to gain election for themselves or others.”
On some of the forms, more than half of the signatures were forged - while one consisted entirely of fake signatures.
The signatures bore no relation to those of the individuals involved and it was “abundantly plain” they were fake, Mr Weaver said.
One features the name David McCulloch, who died shortly after the election. He was dyslexic and as a result signed his name with particular care.
When contacted by police, his daughter was easily able to confirm that it was not his signature, the court heard.
Jonathan Childs, who was the UKIP candidate for East Flegg in that election, himself raised concerns after his form was submitted without him signing it or ever seeing it.
Source: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/three_ukip_members_forged_dozens_of_signatures_on_ electoral_forms_court_hears_1_3906897
Thoughts?
http://www.edp24.co.uk/polopoly_fs/1.3905653.1420549654!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg
Matthew Smith, 27, the Norfolk County Council member for Gorleston St Andrews - who had been selected to stand for parliament in Great Yarmouth at the next general election, is one of three men standing trial at Norwich Crown Court over the alleged electoral fraud.
The charges relate to county council elections in the Yarmouth area in May 2013, when Smith stood for election and acted as UKIP’s electoral agent.
Today, prosecutor Brett Weaver outlined evidence of forged signatures on seven out of eight forms submitted by the party in that campaign.
He added: “These defendants were engaged in an electoral fraud on a significant scale either to gain election for themselves or others.”
On some of the forms, more than half of the signatures were forged - while one consisted entirely of fake signatures.
The signatures bore no relation to those of the individuals involved and it was “abundantly plain” they were fake, Mr Weaver said.
One features the name David McCulloch, who died shortly after the election. He was dyslexic and as a result signed his name with particular care.
When contacted by police, his daughter was easily able to confirm that it was not his signature, the court heard.
Jonathan Childs, who was the UKIP candidate for East Flegg in that election, himself raised concerns after his form was submitted without him signing it or ever seeing it.
Source: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/three_ukip_members_forged_dozens_of_signatures_on_ electoral_forms_court_hears_1_3906897
Thoughts?