SOURCE
THE CRIME
Treating
A person is guilty of the corrupt practice of treating if they corruptly, directly or
indirectly, either before, during or after an election, give or provide (or pay wholly or
in part the expense of giving or providing) any food, drink, entertainment or provision
in order to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting.
THE CRIMINAL ACT
Yesterday Straw fed 700 constituents with curry, nan, dessert, tea and coffee at Jan's Conference Centre at an election rally in Blackburn .
Every political candidate and agent knows that this is illegal. It is a specific criminal offence known as "Treating". It carries a jail sentence and disqualification for the candidate.
HOW THE POLICE HELPED
The extraordinary thing was that, not only was the criminal offence carried out in an open and blatant manner, but this criminal offence was actually aided and abetted by the police. Jack Straw arrived not only with his close protection officers but with escorting police officers who actually guarded the criminal act.
HOW THE ELECTION OFFICER TREATS OTHERS
It is worth noting that an independent candidate, Bushra Irfan, was reported to the police by the returning officer for an internet page that suggested that food would be given at a meeting. Irfan's campaign apologised and removed the offending page; no food was given. However Jack Straw was able to actually give out seven hundred meals under the noses of the police, with not a word said by the Returning Officer, who by law should now disqualify him. A criminal trial should follow.
VOTE BNP AND TREAT LABOUR TO A GOOD LONG REST
Has anyone taken this up with the RO or the local police?
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