Okay Miranda you are innocent (in your head). But the fact still remains a jury and an experienced judge found you GUILTY as charged on two separate occasions. We live in a civilised country not a banana republic: the evidence must be damming for you, Miranda to be the first person in England and Wales to be charged under the Representation of the People Act.

Miranda a word from the wise: think about what you have done to me, Barry Smith and Anon-i-mouse. You did to me what you did to her and we have not even met. I wish we could to exchange notes.

Miranda keep fighting for your “innocence” and “justice”, live the illusion, it will bite you on the behind in the end.

Also if you are reading this Miranda, the game of life is one of boomerang every thought action and deed comes right back to you.

what is it you are sceptical about, Chris ? The extension of single “stipe” decision making, the principle of which most magistrates and many DJs also abhor but was rammed through by New Labour.

Or do you believe that the decisions are suspect or perverse, in which case from my experience you would have few lawyers or service users agreeing with you. The proportion of successful appeals against conviction in the Crown Court is significantly higher than in summary courts.

“I also believe that new laws need good transcripted trials. And I still feel that while the paedophile accusation charge against Grell is so very extreme and hopefully untypical of cases that might be brought that we still don’t have an idea where the boundary of this law is.”

I’m afraid this reads to me that you want clear guidance on how to get round the intention of the law – just what you can get away with in smearing the personal life of a rival candidate before getting your collar felt, when the aim of the law is to stop all such smears.

Oh, and I’ve read your post where you complain about the unavailability of legal aid – ask yourself who changed the rules to restrict it, and why.

I made a mistake in questioning the MSM’s initial reporting of the first verdict. I corrected this fairly quickly – as soon as I found out – in a different post. Matt Wardman for example acknowledged that and the fact that knowledge of the evidence and the arguments was very hard to come by.

I have found it pretty ugly that the likes of Mayer and Dale have linked to the first, superceded post many weeks after the fact.

I am sceptical about the summary justice of magistrates courts – a view shared by many many lawyers and “service users” – and I believe unlike some bloggers in the right to appeal. I also believe that new laws need good transcripted trials. And I still feel that while the paedophile accusation charge against Grell is so very extreme and hopefully untypical of cases that might be brought that we still don’t have an idea where the boundary of this law is.

Could Grell have been convicted on the basis of what she admitted in court? We just don’t know. Perhaps that will become clear in the transcript for the appeal.

I also believe that court reporting laws and conventions ought to be followed by grown up bloggers. There is an informant sending emails round at the moment about a LD councillor in a scrape suggesting we blog this without mentioning the name etc but I’m not planning to do that. Though it has been reported in the papers.

I have no idea what the relevance of the long quote above (10) about some apparent Tory homophobia on the knocker in Manchester is. It seems like a non-sequitor. Why would I have written that here? No Lib Dem was harmed or did any harm in that case. Why would I chuck that in to a comment here? I was responded to a Tory claiming that such things never afflict them. Which is rubbish.

Perhaps someone could explain that comment though? There were five witnesses to that exchange and the tooing and froing is not contested. The candidate who was not present has tried to excuse this hilarious banter by claiming that the people dissing Gay Pride in Manchester were in fact very ironic gay men themselves.

Anyway, everything comes to those who wait and I have finally had the time to write a post about the verdict. You may not agree with every word of it. Why should you? But there is is. There will be more reflection when the dust settles just a little.

Oh Captain, my captain! I’ll bring the sandwiches.

Don’t you feel any remorse for what you’ve done to Barry?
The poor man was hounded out of his home by appalling homophobic allegations. You’ve maintained your ‘innocence’, but two courts have begged to differ. You’ve also presented this as an attack on Leyton, which is complete nonsense.
I see you’ve resigned from ‘compass’, well its time you looked at your own moral compass, and issueed a full, if belated apology for your actions.

As a minority herself, she should appreciate that her victim was minority too. She should further appreciate that both minorities endure discrimination and thus should be working together, not against each other. A rising star is not meant to work against the people they represent, but quite the opposite. If she wants to know what life is like for LGBT young people and adults, I would be happy to take her to an LGBT charity where i am a trustee and she could listen for herself.

As a democratically elected politician, she should have set out a positive example of what a good citizen is, however, she willingly chose to abuse her public office by launching a smear campaign.

Furthermore, it is not socially acceptable to incite hatred against gays, lesbians, bisexuals or transsexuals. They, as any other community, have equal civil and human rights with anybody else. Indeed, incitement to hatred for whatever reason should be totally unacceptable in a civilised society.

As a British Muslim myself and not LGBT, I want to and will stand up for what I believe is right, to speak up for all minorities and the rest of society. That is what a rising politician is all about. A rising politician wants to see change and eradicate all forms of discrimination. It may not happen overnight, but we must begin the process of eradication.

I agree with virtually all your post, but as a minority myself, feel extremely ashamed by her actions. She is not representative of the BME, LGBT or minority faith communities in Britain, who in fact, are extremely tolerant and want to contribute to an inclusive society.

Thanks

Mash

What concerns me is that she continues to claim she is “innocent”, without producing any evidence. On two different occasions, Cllr Grell’s conviction was upheld. What else would she like? Would you like the United Nations Security Council to hear her appeal or something LOL? She appealed and she lost. Simple fact.

perhaps she could explain why she would resign from her involvement in three different places, if she still believed she was so innocent. Clearly her own party and employers accept the court’s decision, why can’t she accept it and accept the simple fact that she was wrong.

“Although I know I am innocent, what I have been convicted of amounts to bringing the Labour party into disrepute and gross misconduct of the Greater London Authority constitution.”

That is what most people convicted of all kinds of criminal or civil cases. They all claim they are innocent, if that was true, then this whole world would be a better place.

“I cannot expect either of these organisations to continue to formally support me in these circumstances.”

Why is that? Surely, you are innocent, so why would they not continue to support you? Makes logical sense.

“Many thanks to all of you who have today sent through messages of support.”

How many people? 2 ok ok…. i’ll give you the benefit of the doubt…..3 people messaged you to support you, including Joanna.

“Our fight continues.”

Well, you can fight on your own. And this time without the support of Labour, GLA or Compass or anyone else.

What would be refreshing is to have a Labour person come here and say, “I hope it’s not true. I don’t believe it’s true. But if it is true it is unacceptable. And I won’t hesitate to say so.”

I would ask the same question mate, I certainly would. Suddenly, she is no longer saying “go and read the transcript”, well, I would tell her [Joanna], go and read the appeal transcript. Maybe you will notice that your colleague is actually a convicted individual. Today the people of Waltham Forest will celebrate this verdict, and will celebrate the fact that another bigoted individual has been removed from public office.

I guess it was a bit too much to ask for the likes of Chris Paul and other attack-dogs to come out today and say: “I believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty. I believe in the right to appeal. Both of those are now exhausted for Miranda Grell, and I accept that she is now guilty of a grave crime and must be expelled from the Labour Party forthwith. We cannot have that kind of people working in the Labour Party, or any other party.”

Instead he comes out biting, and creates strawmen to attack in a kind of sad and pathetic attempt to claim it is HE that is being smeared! Yes, Chris Paul is the real victim here…

I hope that the Greater London Assembly retracts any supportive statement for this Labour councillor and issues a condemnatory statement. Clearly, if this was a racial issue, the Mayor would have immediately removed the employee. However, as this is someone from the LGBT community, there is clearly a lack of respect for this minority community in sections of the Labour party.

The Labour association, of which Cllr Miranda Grell is a member, should issue a statement condemning her behaviour and subsequently terminate her membership. If they do not, it will only illustrate to people that Labour refuses to commit to promoting community cohesions and positive images of LGBT communities in London.

Furthermore, I truly hope all Labour GLA members and Members of Parliament (MPs) begin to distance themselves away from this member.

Her behaviour was completely deplorable and that I am surprised that someone from a minority community would subject another member of a minority community to this form of discrimination.

You also made Miranda Grell’s cause your own, vocally and self-righteously – of course people are going to question your judgement. You painted yourself into this corner and you were proved wrong; don’t bleat.