Woolas Defends Election Campaign
One of the leaflets in question.
Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has defended his conduct during the general election campaign, during the second day of a special hearing at Uppermill Civic Hall. During a full day of cross-examination, Mr Woolas conceded that one of his leaflets “sailed very close to the wind,” but added that he had over-ruled members of his team who wanted stronger attacks on his Liberal Democrat rival.
The beaten Lib Dem candidate, Elwyn Watkins, lost the election by just 103 votes. He’s brought a legal challenge in the belief that certain statements made about him in some Labour leaflets broke the law.
According to various media reports, Mr Woolas today rejected claims put to him by barrister James Laddie that he had adopted an “anything goes” strategy to the contents of campaign literature. The former Immigration Minister defended his record as a constituency MP, especially in the years following the Oldham race riots a decade ago.
However, Mr Woolas admitted he went “very close to the wind” with a leaflet which referred to claims, reported by BBC’s Newsnight, that Mr Watkins had allegedly paid campaign workers cash-in-hand and below the minimum wage. Revenue and Customs later decided Mr Watkins had no case to answer.
Mr Woolas also told the court his election agent, Joe Fitzpatrick, had wanted a leaflet to heavily criticise purported links between the Lib Dems and alleged “Muslim extemist” groups. Mr Woolas said he had ordered the content of the leaflet toned down on both “political” and “moral” grounds.
The claims made in Labour literature surrounding the supposed links between Mr Watkins and “extremists” are one of three sets of statements being tested in court this week. The others relate to how Mr Watkins financed his campaign, and where he lives.
The legal challenge is under Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983. It states that publishing “any false statement of fact in relation to the candidate’s personal character or conduct” is illegal, unless “reasonable grounds” for believing the statement to be true can be shown.
Two High Court judges are hearing the case. If they agree with Mr Watkins, the election in Oldham East and Saddleworth would be declared void, causing a by-election. Both Mr Woolas and Mr Fitzpatrick might also be barred from holding public office.
You can read more detailed accounts of today’s evidence at the BBC website here, and from the Financial Times here.
Yesterday, the court heard from Mr Watkins’ lawyer that Mr Woolas had wanted to “make the white folk angry” during his election campaign. You can read about that here.
Full coverage from Saddleworth News of the election and the aftermath is available here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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