Speculation Grows Ahead Of Woolas Verdict
Phil Woolas MP
Get politicians, political activists and journalists together and gossip is sure to follow. And there was plenty of gossiping about the election court case in Oldham East and Saddleworth on the fringes of last week’s Labour conference in Manchester.
Some of that rumour-mongering has made its way onto various political blogs, much of it concerned with what might happen in the event that Labour MP Phil Woolas loses the legal challenge brought by his Liberal Democrat rival Elwyn Watkins.
Mike Smithson of the well-respected Political Betting site has posted that Labour activists have been canvassing voters by phone, in case a by-election has to be held. You can read his article here.
(Editor’s note: I’ve not had one of these phone calls, and I haven’t heard from anyone else who has either. So if you live in the constituency and HAVE been canvassed by Labour recently, please get in touch by commenting below this article!)
A Lib Dem blogger who covered last month’s hearing in detail, Nick Thornsby, has produced a list of Labour politicians who have been mentioned as potential candidates in the event of a by-election (if Mr Woolas loses he’d probably be barred from holding public office for a period of time, meaning he couldn’t stand again himself). You can read his piece here.
But it’s not just Labour apparently preparing just in case a by-election is needed. As revealed by Saddleworth News last week, Mr Watkins has already advertised for volunteers to help his campaign.
Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Kashif Ali has also been active lately, getting local media attention for statements on issues including car parking for blood donors and councillors’ expenses.
The High Court judges who heard the case are due to return to Uppermill later this month to deliver their verdict.
You can read about every twist and turn in this story from the Saddleworth News archive here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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