This morning we will know whether the petitioners who have challenged Alistair Carmichael’s election have been successful. The ruling will be published mid-morning. From the BBC:
The result of legal action challenging the election of Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael is due on Wednesday.
Four constituents raised the action against the Lib Dem MP under the Representation of the People Act 1983.
They claimed Mr Carmichael misled voters over a memo which was leaked before May’s general election.
The result of the special election court hearing will be announced on Wednesday morning.
The election court in Edinburgh heard evidence from six witnesses over three days earlier in the year, in what was believed to be the first case of its kind in Scotland for 50 years.
As soon as we know, we’ll keep you posted with developments.
Alistair has been busy in the Commons this week, speaking out against the Government’s parliamentary tricks over votes at 16 in the European Referendum.
Update: 10:15. Suggestions that the petition may have been thrown out and Alistair’s election stands:
BREAKING: My understanding is Alistair Carmichael has been cleared by election court. Official announcement at 10.30.
— Kieran Andrews (@C_KAndrews) December 9, 2015
Discussion of this case can hastily deteriorate into nasty personal mud-slinging, so comments will be pre-moderated.
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8 Comments
Somewhat obviously, I am hoping this rules in favour of Carmichael.
Not sure what the outcome of this should be. If Carmichael had admitted he lied before the election I think it’s very unlikely he would have won. That said if we had to re-run elections every time someone lied we would be having a hell of a lot of elections. Overall I think I would let the result stand, but either way I think Mr Carmichael will lose next time there’s an election in Orkney and Shetland.
If it goes against him I hope it is accepted and there is no appeal.
It has gone in favour of Carmichael – can that be appealed ?
“It has gone in favour of Carmichael – can that be appealed ?”
No. In British English we “appeal against” something.
Thank you RC. As far as I am aware one can appeal to, for and against. Please see also the verb “to protest”.
We’ve all read these regulations at election time, and surely they refer explicitly to one candidate libelling or slandering a rival candidate? They were never intended to refer to lying in general. I’m surprised it was judged worthy of a hearing, it opens up the road to vexatious complaints, and if rejected would have saved the complainants a lot of money too.
Clearly Alistair should have told the truth about it, but can anyone imagine that the SNP would not have leaked a similar memo in the reverse position? Normally attempts to complain about massively misleading statements and election literature after the event never get anywhere.
RC – point taken. My question is can the complainants appeal against the verdict of the Court ? I would think not but I am not sure in this litigious age.