To ensure fair elections, there are strict rules on what candidates can spend in a constituency and what parties can spend nationally.

The Daily Mirror, ITV Westcountry, Michael Crick and Channel 4 News have uncovered evidence that alleges the Conservatives broke these rules in a number of constituencies that could have changed the result of the 2015 election.

Fair elections are an integral part of our democracy and confidence in the democratic process is vital.

I/we the undersigned call on the Chief Constables covering affected constituencies to investigate the election expense returns of the winning candidates for evidence of criminal offences under the Representation of the People Act.

Below is also a letter you can send to the police. You do not need to live in these constituencies to write to the police.

 

To the NAME OF POLICE FORCE and Police Commissioner (for information).

INSERT NAME AND CONSTITUENCY FOR THAT PARTICUALR FORCE

Please consider this letter carefully. It is being sent it to all the police forces who are in a position to act because joint action is likely to be needed.

Very serious allegations have appeared, in various news outlets, that some Conservative Party members have been guilty of breaches of the Representation of the People Act: during the General Election; that expenses incurred were declared as being for “national” campaigning, ie across the whole country yet were targeted at specific constituencies. In particular the so called battle bus was involved, together with party workers and possibly hotel bills. If true, this means that declarations made by constituency campaign managers of election expenses, as well as the returns submitted by national party managers, were erroneous in the extreme, which raises the distinct possibility of deceit and of conspiracy on the part of the campaign managers involved.

These matters concern all UK citizens, regardless of whether or not they are constituents of any MP’s against whom allegations have been made. The issues go to the heart of our public life and government. The standing of Parliament and the democratic process have been called into question, and any alleged criminality must be investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted.

Whilst I appreciate that it is very close to the deadline to issue proceedings, the courts are empowered to grant extensions under the Representation of the People Act. I also understand that the police face a serious shortage of resource, but this issue is of massive national significance. Whilst any investigation may prove difficult, this should not be a cause for inaction, as any example of the corruption of electoral proceedings needs to be brought to the attention of the courts, as a matter of urgency. I am also sure that you will be aware that the Electoral Commission is looking into the national situation and is calling for a full police investigation - a web link to their announcement is attached.

I attach below a list of the constituencies and MPs subject to these allegations, together with a couple of relevant web-links. I urge you to give careful consideration to this matter, which I am reporting to all Police forces that are in a position to act. Please inform me how you will proceed with regards to these matters.

Yours faithfully
SIGNED

 

Carlisle – John Stevenson -  Cumbria Police

Cannock Chase – Amanda Milling - Staffordshire Police

Wells-James Heappey-Avon and Somerset
Yeovil. Marcus Fysh-Avon and Somerset

Weaver Vale,-Graham Evans -Cheshire

City of Chester – Stephen Mosley - Cheshire Police

Amber Valley- Nigel Mills -Derbyshire
Erewash-Maggie Throup-Derbyshire

North Cornwall-Scott Mann -Devon and Cornwall
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport-Oliver Colvile- Devon and Corwall
Torbay-Kevin Foster -Devon and Cornwall
Camborne & Redruth - George Eustice – Devon & Cornwall Police

Cheltenham-Alex Chalk-Gloucestershire
Thornbury and Yate-Luke Hall -Gloucestershire AND Avon and Somerset

Bury North-David Nuttall-Greater Manchester

Cheadle (Mary Robinson) , Hazel grove (William Wragg) – Greater Manchester Police

South Thanet-Craig Mackinlay-Kent

Morecambe and Lunesdale-David Morris-Lancashire

Rossendale and Darwin – Jake Berry - Lancashire

Lincoln-Karl McCartney-Lincolnshire

Northampton North-Michael Ellis-Northamptonshire

Broxtowe-Anna Soubry-Nottinghamshire
Sherwood-Mark Spencer-Nottinghamshire 

Nuneaton, Marcus Jones - Warwickshire

Dudley South-Mike Wood-West Midlands

Pudsey-Stuart Andrew-West Yorkshire Police