LORD BINGHAM of Cornhill, a former Lord Chief Justice, said in yesterday’s ruling on the actions of Dame Shirley Porter and David Weeks:
“The passage of time and the familiarity of the accusations made against them cannot and should not obscure the unpalatable truth that this was a deliberate, blatant and dishonest misuse of public power. It was a misuse of power by both of them, not for the purpose of financial gain, but for that of electorial advantage. In that sense, it was corrupt.”
Lord Scott of Foscote said that Dame Shirley and Mr Weeks “stand convicted of political corruption” on the basis of undisputed facts. “The corruption was not money corruption,” he said. “No one took a bribe.” No one had sought or received money for political favours.
“But there are other forms of corruption, often less easily detectable and therefore more insidious. Gerrymandering — the manipulation of constituency boundaries for party political advantage — is a clear form of political corruption.”
If unchecked “it engenders cynicism about elections, about politicians and their motives, and damages the reputation of democratic government”. Quoting from Twelfth Night, Lord Scott said that political corruption, like Viola’s “worm i’ the bud”, fed upon democratic institutions from within.
Lords Steyn, Hope of Craighead and Hobhouse of Woodborough agreed in allowing the challenge by John Magill, the District Auditor.
“The passage of time and the familiarity of the accusations made against them cannot and should not obscure the unpalatable truth that this was a deliberate, blatant and dishonest misuse of public power. It was a misuse of power by both of them, not for the purpose of financial gain, but for that of electorial advantage. In that sense, it was corrupt.”
Lord Scott of Foscote said that Dame Shirley and Mr Weeks “stand convicted of political corruption” on the basis of undisputed facts. “The corruption was not money corruption,” he said. “No one took a bribe.” No one had sought or received money for political favours.
“But there are other forms of corruption, often less easily detectable and therefore more insidious. Gerrymandering — the manipulation of constituency boundaries for party political advantage — is a clear form of political corruption.”
If unchecked “it engenders cynicism about elections, about politicians and their motives, and damages the reputation of democratic government”. Quoting from Twelfth Night, Lord Scott said that political corruption, like Viola’s “worm i’ the bud”, fed upon democratic institutions from within.
Lords Steyn, Hope of Craighead and Hobhouse of Woodborough agreed in allowing the challenge by John Magill, the District Auditor.
