28 more members of our Lib/Lab/Con hall of shame since 22 April

We thought it might be time to update our list of 291 Lib/Lab/Con councillors who've been in trouble: after all, a week has passed, and so there are another 28 since the 22nd April.

*The point of the list is not that none of them were subsequently cleared but rather that the BBC would have opened a dedicated channel for any of them who were UKIP. Who saw on the BBC National News the 2 Labour candidates - one a PPC - convicted of fraud last Friday?

The list is correct in that there are 319 councillors from other parties who have been arrested, convicted, sentenced, stood down, been disgraced, associated with criminals, questioned in the local press about unethical actions or who have been plain useless, incompetent or offensive. Nope not Hope makes no other claims in relation to it.

As to 'wives and children', we refer the BBC to 'Nigel Farage says German wife not taking British job' from their own website.*

Latest members of our hall of shame are below:

Sexism

Witham Labour PPC returns to Twitter after sexist 'pretty Bond villain' comments about Tory MP - http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Labour-parliamentary-candidate-returns-Twitter/story-26359177-detail/story.html
Racism

Derby Tory candidate refers to Miliband as 'the Jew' in online conversation - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/conservative-candidate-makes-vile-jewish-5588308

Goldsmith's NUS (who fund Hope not Hate) Welfare Officer Bahar Mustafe bars white people from anti-racism seminar - http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/lara-prendergast/2015/04/white-people-have-now-been-banned-from-an-anti-racism-event-at-a-british-university/

Tower Hamlets First still playing race card as deputy mayor describes mayor's conviction as 'Islamophobia' - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3054807/Vote-rigging-party-playing-racism-card-Say-mayor-forced-deputy-blames-Islamophobia.html

Arrests

Fife Labour councillor criticises police priorities after they throw him and colleagues out of hotel they refused to leave - http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/they-ve-got-it-all-wrong-fife-councillor-criticises-police-priorities-1.866742

3 Middlesbrough Labour candidates reported to police for making false statements on election literature - http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/three-middlesbrough-labour-candidates-reported-9121405

Banff & Buchan Labour candidate suspended after drink driving in his Maserati - https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/560084/banff-and-buchan-labour-candidate-suspended-after-court-appearance/

Terrorism

Rochdale Labour councillor's son released without charge after attempting to join ISIS in Syria - http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/6-held-terror-charges-by-uk-police-released-without-charge-rochdale-1497165

Suspensions

Labour suspend Wirral councillor, but won't say what for. Councillor says its 'purely procedural' - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/wirral-councillor-louise-reecejones-suspended-9085392

Electoral Fraud

Lib Dems suspend Surry parliamentary candidate over claims he falsified nomination papers - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-hunts-election-opponent-suspended-5591162

Blackburn Labour candidate arrested and bailed on electoral fraud charges over postal vote irregularities - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-32492853

Family of Lib Dem councillor whose 2012 election was quashed after fraud conviction are convicted of same offence - http://www.haslemereuk.com/ex-liberal-democrat-councillors-relatives-guilty-over-electoral-fraud/

Postal vote fraud 'easy' says Electoral Commissioner (but they're not doing anything about it) - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11560017/Postal-voting-fraud-is-easy-electoral-commissioner-says.html

Intimidation

 Newcastle man charged over threat to behead UKIP candidate - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-england-32503821

"Get out or else" - Hope not Hate/UAF vandals attack UKIP shop in Herne Bay, paint threats on windows - http://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/news/vandals-attack-ukip-hq-35423/

HnH still trying to tie UKIP and the EDL in Grimsby after their tall tales about 'intimidation' earlier this week - http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Election-2015-Campaign-leaflets-stolen-street/story-26361149-detail/story.html

6 attacks on UKIP signs in Sunderland, including a home being broken into while the family were asleep - http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/ukip-signs-vandalised-in-spate-of-attacks-on-free-speech-1-7226609

4 UKIP signs go missing within a day in Kirklees, a town with a Hope not Hate presence - http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/local/four-ukip-signs-go-missing-within-a-day-1-7215602

Another UKIP sign defaced in North Devon as the opposition start to get worried - http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/UKIP-sign-house-defaced-spray-paint-protester/story-26379027-detail/story.html

UKIP Derby resort to protecting posters with CCTV after wave of political vandalism - http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-UKIP-sign-goes-thieves-tore/story-26386746-detail/story.html

Links with Criminals:

Labour Lord Mayor of Oxford & 2 Lab councillors give references for man convicted of armed robbery at bookies - http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/12901622.Lord_Mayor_and_two_councillors_give_reference_for_bookies__robber/

Liars

Former Hartlepool Labour leader joins calls for Labour mayor to resign over job lies - http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/time-to-go-former-labour-leader-joins-calls-for-hartlepool-mayor-to-resign-1-7218298

IoW Tory MP threatens UKIP candidate with legal action amid continuing claims about his health - http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/tories-call-in-the-lawyers-over-ukip-claims-79803.aspx

 

Havant Tory PPC 'over-egged' CV during primary selection contest: wriggles as claims come under scrutiny - http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/accusations-fly-as-havant-election-rivals-go-on-the-attack-1-6707070

Expenses

Sutton Lib Dems force through 2.2% pay rise for councillors, defeat motion to record who voted in favour - http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/12910597.Councillor_pay_rises_pushed_through_by_party/

Labour Sefton Council reject inquiry calls into Sefton school paying Mayor of Liverpool for 2 years for no work - http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/calls-inquiry-mayor-liverpools-payments-9107131

Others

Tory Thanet South candidate's business advises immigrants on how to maximise benefit claims - http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/573235/Craig-Mackinlay-website-immigrants-claim-tax-benefit-credit-UK-Nigel-Farage-South-Thanet

Retired teacher awaits apology after Labour councillor urinates in his garden in Paisley - http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2015/04/29/530729-a-wee-problem-on-campaign-trail-prompts-resignation-call/

Cornwall Council to introduce checks on all councillors following Lib Dem 'serous risk to children' councillor - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-32492429

The downloadable list of the other 291 since January 1st can be found at http://nopenothope.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/291-liblabconsnp-councillors-their.html or downloaded from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39PL1hZ6W_ReC00Ni1iWFJ3OFU/view?usp=sharing or read in the preview panel below:



 

The latest digest of crimes etc by the establishment parties - 2 days worth!!

Our original plan was to publish a digest of criminality, electoral fraud, arrests and convictions of
councillors from the establishment parties every 3 or 4 days. It seems like it's been a busy week this week, and as there are a whole load of them since we published our last list on Wednesday, we thought we'd bring you up to date earlier than planned - it makes our task easier too!

This list covers yesterday's (the 15th May) and today's press reports only. The breakdown is:

Tories - 2 on firearms offences, 1 for falsely claiming to be a barrister, 1 drink driving ban, 1 disqualified for benefits fraud, 1 cronyism over pub license breach, 1 accused of sexist remarks

Labour - 1 banned from office for bullying, 1 cronyism delaying prosecution for benefits fraud, 1 electoral fraud allegation, 5 resignations over racism claims, 2 resignations over homophobia claims, 1 facing investigation into homophobic remarks

Lib Dem - 2 on benefits fraud charges

Take a look, and see how many of these you can spot on Hope not Hate's website, or in the national media!

Tory councillor in Chingford to be sentenced today over firearms charges
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/11217704.Gun_offence_Tory_to_be_sentenced_today/

Tory councillor resigns from party over firearms conviction in Somerset
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Conservative-councillor-Tim-Marter-resigns-ban/story-21098133-detail/story.html

'Independent' councillor - whose wife is a Labour county councillor - has disqualification for bullying reduced to 18 months
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/flintshire-councillor-banned-bullying-disqualification-7127671

Labour councillor has case adjourned until safely after the election after her own (Labour controlled) council makes shambles of court paperwork in Thurrock
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2014/05/16/councillors-shambolic-case-adjourned-until-october/

Former Lib Dem councillor now standing as independent charged with benefits fraud in Kingston
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/kingstonnews/11216830.Kingston_councillor_charged_with_benefit_fraud_will_face_polls_before_court/

Conservative councillor arrested over false barrister claims in Guildford
http://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/local-news/1285174/exclusive-guildford-councillor-speaks-to-eagle-following-her-arrest/

Lib Dem councillor convicted of benefit fraud charges forced of council committees after refusing to resign in Tiverton
http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Fraudster-councillor-Tiverton-forced-committees/story-21101893-detail/story.html

Conservative councillor receives one year ban for drink driving in Skegness
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Conservative-councillor-handed-ban-drink-driving/story-21093349-detail/story.html

Police launch electoral fraud investigation into Labour councillor in Slough over intimidation relating to postal votes
http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/slough/articles/2014/05/15/100278-police-launch-election-fraud-probe-after-allegations-a-slough-labour-candidate-intimidated-a-resident-into-filling-out-her-postal-vote-/

Conservative candidate disqualified after £30k benefits fraud conviction comes to light in Enfield
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/conservative-candidate-guilty-of-cheating-london-council-in-30000-benefits-scam-9375335.html

5 Labour councillors resign from party in Middlesbrough citing racism of local Labour Party among other complaints
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/five-middlesbrough-councillors-resign-labour-7080454

Tory council accused of turning blind eye to license breaches at pub owned by Tory councillor during function on behalf of Tory mayor in Crayford
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11207456.Bexley_Council_accused_of__whitewash__on_investigation_into_strippers_at_Crayford_pub/?ref=var_0

SNP activists claims Tory councillor made sexist remarks (but nobody else heard) in Berwickshire
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/local-headlines/tory-in-indy-sexist-claim-1-3411729#.U3R80R4ieDw.twitter

Labour councillor faces investigation over homophobic remarks directed at gay rival in Liverpool
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-liberal-councillor-steve-radford-7122909

More resignations from Labour Party in Thanet following leader's resignation over homophobia claims earlier this week
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Labour-leader-hits-deputy-leader-resigns/story-21093241-detail/story.html

Here's three days worth of news Hope not Hate haven't mentioned.

Hope not Hate are this evening pushing a story concerning a UKIP councillor who has allegedly been arrested for assault.

We have no idea whether the story is true or not, but given the timing - a week before polling day - and the source, it is unlikely to be entirely what it appears.

In order to put that into perspective, we thought we'd post three days worth of councillor related stories from the other parties as featured on our Facebook page, which is updated daily. To be clear, these are news articles from the 11th May to the 14th May only. We'll bet you haven't read about any of them on Hope not Hate's website, heard about them on the national news or read them in anything apart from local newspapers with the exception of Lord Hanningfield.

So when Hope not Hate try and tell you how bad UKIP are, you can be sure they're just acting as tools of the establishment. Worse, they're treating you like a fool, because you're only getting what they want you to read. Here are the ones they and the establishment would rather you didn't read:

Potentially ineligible Tory candidate arrested in Tower Hamlets
http://www.wharf.co.uk/2014/05/conservatives-suspend-party-ca.html

Local residents call for Lib Dem MP and local councillor Mike Hancock to stand down ahead of his civil trial for sexual assault
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/calls-for-massively-respected-mike-hancock-to-quit-rather-than-stand-for-election-1-6058687

Tory councillor Saeed Akthar on trial for perverting the course of justice after tricking Tory MP into giving character reference for son who was on trial for grooming 15 year old girl
http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/latest-news/huntingdon_mp_jonathan_djanogly_likely_to_be_prosecution_witness_in_perverting_course_of_justice_trial_involving_former_mayor_1_3599092

Tory councillor faces ban after drink driving arrest
http://www.louthleader.co.uk/news/local/eldc-councillor-from-fulstow-faces-ban-after-drink-driving-1-6058289

Labour councillor stands down from Co-Op board in row over fake qualifications
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/co-op-board-member-labour-councillor-munir-malik-leaves-amid-qualification-probe-1448467

Labour council leader stands down in Thanet amid allegations of homophobia
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/council-leader-resigns-after-angry-17091/

Welsh Green Party leader apologises for lying over polling data
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wales-green-party-leader-pippa-7093559#.U3HEyaClygk.twitter

Entire Independent Remuneration Panel resign in protest as Tory councillors in Surrey increase their personal allowances by 60%.
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11207641.Shock_resignation_in_council_expenses_row/?ref=var_0

Lib Dem candidate tweeted he 'loved to kiss and lick feet' and was 'looking for large women'
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/liberal-democrat-election-candidate-tweeted-7101941#.U3DxzV622PA.twitter

Tory Peer and former leader of Essex County Council fined £3,300 and suspended from Lords over expenses 'signing in' fraud - he has already served a prison sentence for fraud
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10824430/Tory-peer-set-to-receive-record-Lords-ban-for-abusing-expenses.html

SNP student leader in racism row
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/10823301/SNP-student-leader-in-racism-row-for-calling-David-Cameron-an-English-t.html

Tory councillor fails to enter plea to child pornography charges at court hearing
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Resort-s-mayor-court-facing-child-indecency/story-21081963-detail/story.html

Electoral fraud case against two Labour councillors thrown out on legal technicality relating to costs
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/cumbrian-election-challenges-rejected-by-high-court-1.1135120

Hope not Hate and the £70k VAT fraud

As promised yesterday on our Facebook page, news reaches us that senior Hope not Hate staff face having their collars felt as research indicates they misused the VAT exemption certificate for their charitable arm - Hope not Hate Educational Ltd - to evade VAT on services relating to their anti-UKIP political campaigning.

An in-depth report by former UKIP staffer Mark Croucher - available in full on his own blog - suggests that campaigning work carried out in the 2010 General Election by political strategy company Blue State Digital was invoiced without VAT being included. On publicly available invoices this amounts to a little over £12,000 they fraudulently evaded, but as Blue State Digital still work for Hope not Hate, this could amount to a total of over £ 70,000 over the past 4 years. In this time, Hope not Hate have received over £150,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government towards their charitable aims.

The question must now be what will Hope not Hate's financial backers think of such tax avoidance? The Daily Mirror wrote 3 months ago that

"Tax avoidance is now running at £35billion a year – £3billion more than when Labour was in power....Because think how many nurses, police officers and teachers could be employed with that £35billion. Think how many vital services could have been saved from the cuts and how many jobs protected."

Nick Lowles - owner of Hope not Hate
who sanctioned VAT fraud

While trade union UNISON wrote

"UNISON supports the introduction of a general anti-avoidance principle in the tax code that would allow for HMRC to take action against any tax avoidance and placing an obligation on individuals and corporations operating within the UK to pay their fair share of taxes"
UNITE has had plenty to say about tax evasion, but as a tax evader itself, it will probably applaud Hope not Hate's fraudulent use of their exemption certificate.

Quite what other unions with a more traditional bent will think remains to be seen: PCS, CWU, GMB, NUT, TUC, AMICUS and the FBU remains to be seen.



Ruth Smeeth - Hope not Hate
Educational Ltd's general
secretary: did she know of
VAT fraud?

We understand that the matter has been reported to the Charity Commission - who censured HnH a decade ago for mixing its political activities with its charitable ones - HM Customs & Excise, the police, and the Electoral Commission as their 2010 return was fraudulent and not a true reflection of their financial affairs. It can only be a matter of time before Nick Lowles and Ruth Smeeth have their collars felt.