Desperate Labour face an investigation

Michael Clarke and wife with East Midls Election Officer Wayne McDermott.
A LABOUR candidate was so desperate to resist a challenge from the British National Party in a county council election that he might have fallen foul of the law.

The contest in question was for the Kirkby North Division of Nottinghamshire County Council and the result was as follows:

John Knight (Lab) 842
Michael Clarke (BNP) 722
Wendy Harvey (Ind) 597
James Thornton (Con) 445
Melvin Grant (Lib-Dem) 412
Dave Spalding (Ind) 174
BNP Percentage 22.6%

It was a great effort by the BNP's Michael Clarke, who was beaten by just 120 votes, and it is the closeness of this contest that is key to the police investigation that is now taking place.
                   
Just two days before polling day, a letter was sent out by Ashfield District Council to local residents in the Kirkby North Division which was blatant electioneering on behalf of the Labour candidate John Knight.

Now John Knight just happens to be the leader of Ashfield District Council so it is inconceivable that this letter was sent without his knowledge and consent.

The letter concerned a consultation process taking place with regard to the development of Warwick Close and the surrounding area which had generated a high level of response from local residents with 57% of those within the area completing a questionnaire.

So on this topic of great public interest, guess who gets a special mention in this official council letter sent out just 48 hours before those very residents go to cast their votes . . . ?

Why none other than John Knight himself!

The letter says:

"The new Leader of the Council, Cllr John Knight, a local Kirkby Member is taking a personal interest in the issues and has made it clear to me that he is committed to improving the area for local residents."

Michael Clarke understandably wants a full investigation into this and has contacted the police because he believes that this matter could have far reaching implications for the democratic process because a candidate has used taxpayers money to promote his campaign.

He told me:

"As you can see Labour won the seat by 120 votes, so it is reasonable to assume that the letter could have been a highly significant factor.

"Depending upon the result of the police investigation I will be seeking that the election be re-run.

"The investigating officer stated that this has high ranking people scratching their heads with all agreeing that it was wrong to send the letter, but unsure what laws may have been broken.

"Although there was no official imprint on the letter, the sender is clearly identified along with the council address. This is evidence that Ashfield District Council interfered with this Nottinghamshire County Council election."

I've forwarded Michael's email to Michael Barnbrook, a former senior police officer who is the British National Party's crime spokesman and whom I'm certain will be keen to offer help and advice.

I'll keep you updated with any developments.

A bit of my music to finish off with.

Bringing on back the Good Times by the Love Affair.

I wish the clip could have been from Top of the Pops in 1969 when the song was released and reached No 9, but it doesn't seem as though it's available.

However there's this one from German TV some thirty years later with Stevie Ellis still sounding good.

Good Times was the BNP's General Election song back in 2005.