Liberal Democrats in Watford have been on the receiving end of a harassment campaign since 2005 (indeed, it’s over a year since I blogged about a £5,000 reward being offered by the police).
Yesterday events took a dramatic turn as the Watford Observer reports:
Ian Oakley, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Watford [and councillor in Hillingdon], has been arrested in connection with a hate campaign directed at the town’s local Liberal Democrat group…
A police statement, released today (Saturday) said: “We can confirm a 31-year-old man from West Drayton was arrested on Friday, yesterday, in connection with a series of criminal damage and harassment offences, the victims of which were local members of a national political party.
“He has been given police bail pending further enquiries.”
The police investigation, nicknamed Operation Tuition, started in 2005 after several Lib Dem supporters received poison pen letters aimed at Watford councillors…
The case is considered so serious Hertfordshire Constabulary’s major crime task force has been investigating the matter.
As well as poison pen letters, the police operations has encompassed criminal damage to property. It is known car tyres have been slashed and bodywork damaged.
Speaking today, Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “We are absolutely delighted that after three years of harassment and distress somebody has finally been arrested.
“We are pleased the police have persevered with this and now it is up to the CPS to obviously carry it forward.
“We don’t want to say anything else that could jeopardise any court case but we are delighted they are proceeding with the investigation.”
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16 Comments
this is great news and I hope that things return to what is concidered normal campaign conditions in other areas is resumed in Watford
Please can I ask that thoses posting comments bare in mind that this is yet to go to court and avoid saying anything that would prejadice a court case
thanks
The Times is reporting that he has resigned http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4364170.ece
Next time some Conservative is speaking about “Lib Dem dirty campaigning”, this event could be pointed to him/her.
The comments on Conservative home are comical. He is being smeared apparently !!!
What does this say for David Camerons policy of selecting candidates by Primary elections?
Candidates by primary elections is not that bad an idea in principle. Giving more people a say is not a bad idea, perhaps if we tried it we would have better candidates than those we had to endure in C&N and Henley.
The issue here is surely one of dirty tricks in politics. We have to use this to deflect criticism away from our campaigns. It is great how our opponents cry about our tactics WHEN THEY LOSE TO US but use worse tactics against us. That is what we must take from this.
When commenting on this, please remember that someone has been arrested, not convicted. Thanks.
Spanny – not sure that primaries would improve our candidates in C&N and Henley. I know Stephen to be an excellent potential MP and friends who went to Crewe say that Elizabeth Shenton was one of the best candidates in years. I fear that the candidates were not the problem and that selection methods are not the issue.
Thank you Cllr Neil; those of us close to the C&N campaign were more than happy with our candidate.
For some reason [anybody know why ?] “Spanny Thomas” (is that a real name?) seems to delight in insulting Elizabeth Shenton.
I seriously hope this investigation doesn’t reveal any incidents of foul play on the part of the Conservatives (or any other party for that matter) because politics really doesn’t need any more events to undermine its credibility.
http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
those of us close to the C&N campaign were more than happy with our candidate.
Indeed. Having been in Crewe for the whole campaign, Elizabeth was a joy to work for. I’ve worked for some duff candidates over the year just out of party loyalty. I can honestly say that Elizabeth Shenton wasn’t one of them.
If this has been going on for three years then the guy they have arrested had not even been selected. I though he was selected 18 months ago?
When commenting on this, please remember that someone has been arrested, not convicted. Thanks.
If you handn’t posted a link to inflammatory news, then there would be no reason to ask people not to inflame the situation further. What about waiting until events are finalised before posting on this at all? Wouldn’t that avoid things getting out of hand, at the same time as showing rather more editorial responsibility?
This story is being reported in most of the mainstream media (BBC, broadsheets etc) and so there is no reason not to post a link to such stories, especially when this relates to the Liberal Democrats.
Russ: isn’t the logic of what you’re saying not to report news of any (alleged) crime until a conviction has taken place?
Never reporting things such as a police reward being offered, an arrest having taken place or a trial having started would be a massive over-reaction to the need to comment on things appropriate when someone is charged rather than convicted.
But also why shouldn’t people who have an interest in the case (e.g. because friends or colleagues have been victims) know that an arrest has taken place?
Kevin, prior to being the Tory PPC he was their campaign manager.