Electoral Fraud In Hackney

EDM number 587 in 2000-01, proposed by Brian Sedgemore on 23/04/2001.

That this House notes that Tory councillor Isaac Leibowitz has been sent to prison for six months for his role in the commission of forgery, conspiracy and fraud in local elections in Hackney and that Lib-Dem councillor Zev Lieberman has been jailed for four months; believes that given the gravity of the crimes the sentences were absurdly lenient and calls on the Attorney General to refer the cases to the Court of Appeal so that they can be increased; condemns Leibowitz and Lieberman for their persistent and extraordinary lies during the trial as though they were unable to tell the difference between right and wrong; is saddened that their only regret and that of their colleagues on Hackney Council was that they were caught, regrets that the prosecution has decided not to ask for a re-trial to agree on their innocence or guilt in the trial; calls on Sharer and Achhala who, whether or not they were involved in the fraud, were beneficiaries of it, to resign immediately so that free and fair by-elections can be held; and in furtherance of the interests of democracy for the future calls on local and national leaders in the Tory and Lib-Dem parties including the Tory mayor of Hackney to condemn and disown the fraudsters in the strongest possible terms.

This motion has been signed by a total of 41 MPs.