Will prosecutors have the guts to take Tories accused of expenses fraud to the courts?

Last Updated: May 10, 2017By

The way the Conservatives’ “battle bus” spending was recorded is being investigated [Image: Getty Images].

Today’s the day we find out whether the Crown Prosecution Service really works for justice – or for the Conservative Party.

After months of dragging their feet, police finally delivered files to the CPS on around 30 Tories – including MPs in the 2015-17 Parliament – earlier this year.

Now the CPS is preparing to announce its decision.

If it is to prosecute, then it could not come at a worse time for Theresa May’s party.

Already demoralised by a lacklustre campaign that has seen the unelected prime minister behaving like a tinpot dictator, refusing to meet the public and stage-managing campaign appearances – and still making a fool of herself – such a decision could be the beginning of the end for a political organisation that passed its ‘use-by’ date before the start of the 20th century, let alone the 21st.

Prosecutors are expected to announce on Wednesday whether Conservative politicians or officials will face charges for breaches of expenses rules.

The CPS is considering files sent by police following investigations in up to 27 constituencies.

It relates to claims some campaigning costs in the 2015 general election were wrongly recorded.

The Conservative Party has insisted administrative errors were to blame rather than any intention to deceive.

And it has said some of the spending was correctly declared.

Source: Conservative election expenses charging decision due – BBC News

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

9 Comments

  1. Harry May 10, 2017 at 12:56 am - Reply

    The expenses are bad enough; but who will take the aggressive governments invading Syria to the ICC?

    http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/05/iranian-foreign-minister-responds-to.html

    Not just troops, but tanks. A major offensive readied against a country that has not threatened us. Under the UN charter this is the greatest crime.

  2. NMac May 10, 2017 at 6:50 am - Reply

    If this is covered up or swept under the carpet I foresee serious, but well justified public order problems for May and her corrupt cronies.

  3. John May 10, 2017 at 7:44 am - Reply

    Ok, so who’s betting that they’ll all get off scott-free, maybe very tiny tiny fines (at a stretch)?
    If that does happen, will there be a public outcry of corruption pointed at the police?

    • Justin May 10, 2017 at 11:43 am - Reply

      it won’t be the police that has to answer they only refer the case with evidence to cps lawyers, then the cps look at it to see what the chances of a successful prosecution is, then you only have to look at the cps track record, enough said there really, this is probably to hard for them to work with so therefore the cps needs reforming

  4. Christine Cullen May 10, 2017 at 10:30 am - Reply

    Well it seems they got away with it and are even making hay. Now let’s see what’s going to happen in Thanet where there has so far not been a conclusion.

  5. Justin May 10, 2017 at 10:37 am - Reply

    I like to hope so but look at the Misconduct in public office against ids and cg, however, if they decide there there is no case to answer then perhaps the cps should be reformed as well

  6. Florence May 10, 2017 at 10:52 am - Reply

    The deadline for candidates to be registered is tomorrow, 11th May. By leaving it so perilously close to that date we must be concerned.

    I think we would all like to be pleasantly surprised……

    We should also be looking carefully at the expenses this time. Those wrap arounds on local papers must all be collected and counted. As we know, it must be done with rigorous attention to detail and timing. Otherwise we end up with only the most high profile cases being followed.

  7. Dez May 10, 2017 at 1:26 pm - Reply

    yup….whitewash…..CPS took the candidates rehearsed defence story ie we know nothing. Obviously the anti Farage effort in Thanet where even a dozey candidate must have seen the extra funding for himself and knew things were not right…maybe he is the necessary fallguy that is needed to show some credible honesty in the whole campaign.

  8. Roland Laycock May 10, 2017 at 3:06 pm - Reply

    They have covered it up just as they did with the pedophile, They will tell you ignorance is not admissible in a court of law unless you are a Tory

Leave A Comment