News
Call for Cameron to investigate Walsall Tories
On the day that Gordon Brown finally set the date for the general election, Walsall’s Labour Group have called for an investigation into the running of the local Conservative Party.
On 31 March The YamYam reported that Councillor Mohammed Munir, who represents Palfrey for the Conservatives, had been suspended from the party and was the subject of a police investigation regarding electoral fraud. A statement from West Midlands Police said: “The Director of Public Prosecutions has given authorisation for legal proceedings to commence against two men for offences of providing false information to the register of elections and falsely applying for proxy votes. The men aged 57 and 30 years and from Walsall were arrested in January 2009. The investigation relates to irregularities in the May 2008 Walsall Council elections.”
Councillor Munir won the Palfrey seat in 2008 with a slim majority of 134 and doubts as to the validity of the result were expressed at the time. Councillor Tim Oliver, leader of the Walsall Labour Group, said a national investigation is needed after allegations of fraud were ignored.
Councillor Mohammed Munir and his son, Ali Munir, are due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on 21 May.
Councillor Oliver said, “Not withstanding the outcome of the court case, David Cameron should launch an investigation in to Walsall Conservative party.
“For several years Labour Party members in Walsall have been raising concerns about the activities of Conservative Party members and electoral irregularities, which have been dismissed by local Tories time and time again.
“The charges now being brought by the police show that there is clearly a prima facie case for an internal investigation by the Conservatives which because it relates to electoral misconduct can’t afford to be put off until after the election.”
Councillor Oliver added: “In the meantime, with this shadow hanging over him, Councillor Munir simply can’t properly represent the people of his Palfrey ward, so he should step down and resign as a councillor.”