Three UKIP members forged dozens of signatures on electoral forms, court hears

[The Don]

Three UKIP members forged dozens of signatures on electoral forms, court hears

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_uk...ears_1_3906897

Thoughts?

[scottish]

It's only 3 idiots in his party, no-one ever complains about electoral fraud with other parties, jeez.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Good that we have courts and a culture unlike most of the world which doesn't stand for corruption and fraud (if they're guilty).

[Kyle]

I forged my mums signature to get out of French early n told my teacher (hi if you're reading this Pauline idk your second name anymore) that I had to go to the dentist but just went home and played habbo instead.


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[-:Undertaker:-]

An update...

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015...ectoral-fraud/

Breaking: UKIP Members Acquitted Of Electoral Fraud

Two UKIP members have been acquitted of electoral fraud at Norwich Crown Court. Mike Monk and Daniel Thistlethwaite were both tried for having knowledge of a false signature on a nomination paper for the 2013 Council Elections in Great Yarmouth.

During the trial, 20-year-old Thistlethwaite was described as “fringe” character in the “pantomime of Great Yarmouth politics” by his barrister Adrian Harris. Mike Monk was accepted to be more significant as Deputy Chairman of the local UKIP branch, but he was still cleared.

The jury is still deliberating in the case of Matthew Smith, who was the Parliamentary candidate for UKIP in Great Yarmouth. Full details of the case cannot be released until the verdict in his case is delivered.

This story is developing…

[-:Undertaker:-]

The remaining guy, Matthew Smith, has now been cleared of 7 of 9 counts against him: http://www.getbucks.co.uk/news/uk-wo...t-over-8532259 with the final two counts to be decided later on.

Jury fails to reach verdict over allegations of electoral fraud against former Ukip candidate

A jury trying a former Ukip parliamentary candidate and election agent over allegations of electoral fraud has failed to reach verdicts on two remaining counts.

Matthew Smith was cleared of seven counts relating to forged signatures on nomination forms submitted by the party in the 2013 Norfolk County Council elections.

Jurors at Norwich Crown Court said they were unable to reach a decision on the final two counts of making a false statement in nomination papers.

Judge Anthony Bate adjourned the case until this afternoon when he will hear from prosecution and defence barristers over the possibility of a re-trial.

Smith, the Norfolk County Council member for Gorleston St Andrews, had been selected to stand for Parliament in the key target seat of Great Yarmouth at the next general election.

But he was suspended from the party after allegations emerged surrounding nomination forms submitted by Ukip in those elections, during which he acted as the party's agent.