Elliot Morley jailed
20 May 2011 by Durutti
Elliot Morley, our former MP, has been jailed for 16 months after his conviction on two counts of theft by false accounting. Anyone with a belief in democracy and accountability should welcome him being labelled as a criminal. It is interesting, however, that his conviction comes in the same week that there has been a furore over the crime of rape, a debate that has seen attempts to minimise the impact of rape and to reduce prison terms for some offenders.
Elliot Morley may now serve longer behind bars than some convicted rapists. Before we get into arguments about whether his sentence is too lenient we should remember the women who may come face to face with their convicted attackers in a much shorter space of time.
Elliot Morley's actions are indefensible, but please let us have an informed debate about sentencing and the role of prison in society.
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Comments
What a ridiculously implausible link and smoke screen to put up against Moreley's disgraceful dishonesty and, the travesty of justice arising from seemingly a disproportionate and "sloppy" sentence!!
If we are to make any links to support any such debate; with respect PLEASE can we make less opportunist and emotive distractions. Realistic links that are plausible and legitimate comparisons to the whole Morley debacle?!
Any such informed and credible debate would surely be helped by comparing the level of sentencing for benefit cheats and other fraudsters, equally trying it on in defrauding the country and to the tune of �32K of public and tax payers' money.
Moreso the level of sentencing for other equally arrogant, shameless liars and cheats who in the 1st instance plead all innocence; who continue to lie to a formal inquiry; then try to evade common law and the natural course of justice.
Shamefaced and devious arrogance and cowardice that have wasted vast amounts of police, public inquiry and lawyers' time, resources and, vast amounts of more public money having to be squandered in the process!!
PS And of course Morley and others dragging out this whole charade, since well before and after the general election, will have had no bearing on the man receiving his �64K in parliamentary severance allowances?!
Fans, this piece of filth deserves everything he got, quite right! Elliot Morley is not my mate and I certainly don't want to distract any attention to have a go at the Tories. I merely question whether a violation of public trust is a more serious crime than the violation of a womans body.
Bill, I agree completely about the disproportionate sentences for people who overclaim benefits or those who shoplift, usually crimes driven by poverty, which Morley's certainly wasn't. By my rough estimate there is a certain banker who should be serving around 43,267 years for theft from the public purse after this years bonus.
Liars and cheats should be punished and I am sure there are a few local dignitaries on both sides desperately looking around for some receipts to justify past years expenses claims.
Durutti, you say "I am sure there are a few local dignitaries on both sides desperately looking around for some receipts to justify past years expenses claims." Do you mean other local MPs or local councillors? Do you know something we don't?
Go take a look at the mileage claims.
Several councillors have made very large mileage claims yet have absolutely no additional rolls, responsibilities or memberships of committees; further more these same councillors were at the time "boycotting" cabinet meetings.
Draw your own conclusions.
I've tried getting actual mileage claims submitted showing individual trips and distances claimed but to no avail.
Hi Glad, sorry I don't have any special inside knowledge. I have just seen enough of that type of people to know what motivates them and I have seen the gravy train figures. Thoades did some digging but as he says, I think we have to draw our own conclusions.
Although it required some persistence, under a Freeedom of Information request I eventually "convinced" NLC's Legal & Democratic minders to release copies of mileage and expenses claim forms for cllrs Nigel & Carl Sherwood and ex cllr John Berry.
I remember that was around the time that Berry alleged that the Tories began "sidelining and outmanoeuvring" him. And therefore around 18 months before he alleged being finally "forced out"! of the conservative group.
I fail to appreciate why 2 years on, there should now suddenly be any difference or difficulty for anyone requesting copies of NLC councillors mileage and expenses claim forms!!
Unless of course it is another classic case of the contradictions and inconsistencies in North Lincolnshire's standards of local government.
In drawing our conclusions, should we perhaps also be mindful of the recent allegations and tweets from those seemingly in the know, in respect of their perceived level of honesty in Scunthorpe's politics?
any facts to embellish your flowery prose Bill?
Facts such as one of North Lincolnshire's experienced and previously lauded ex Tory councillors who had officially claimed mileage for a return trip from home to S Ferriby. Yet who subsequently pleaded to an investigation into his conduct that he was not on official council duty and only attended the S Ferriby public meeting while travelling on somewhere else.
Facts such as there was a subsequent NLC internal fraud investigation into the above alleged claims and which allegedly found no case to answer. NLC then refused to satisfy a Freedom of Information request to provide details of the case and evidence provided to that investigation and hearing.
Facts such as NLC seemingly, in an effort to stifle further challenges, then having to resort to its Chief Executive sending out implied legal threats advising to refrain from making inflammatory remarks about councillors!!
Alongwith recent events, all of which sums and exemplifies the parochial intellect, deceit, arrogance and calibre of this areas politicians, local government and perhaps the community from which these people are drawn from!!
I think he asked for facts for embellishment, not facts embellished *with* your flowery prose.
I asked for facts too,just adding the word fact doesn't make it so
Surely you are not implying that I would stoop to the level of calibre and integrity within Scunthorpe's political class'es and apparatchik?!
On a serious and more positive note. I am grateful and do have to admit to some smug satisfaction,. Particularly whenever any of my facts and judgments appear to be validated!!
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