There is a fascinating snippet about Saj Karim in this morning's Guardian Diary:
Continuing unpleasantness in Brussels, where Lib Dems can't help sticking the knife into Saj Karim, the MEP who defected to the Tories after failing to top the party's candidate poll for next summer's Euro elections. Fresh mud is being thrown by Chris Davies, the MEP who did top the list. It's all so unseemly. Davies has contacted the Tories, pointing out that prior to the vote a suspicious number of new members joined the party in Oldham, Karim's heartland. Many spoke no English and checks revealed that some had no idea that they had joined. It was moot because none had been members long enough to take part in the vote and few have been seen since. As the vote was untainted and Karim has now left, plans for an inquiry were shelved. We make no suggestion that Karim was involved or even knew it was happening, but it is definitely a tragedy. Had the recruits been able to vote, it could all have been so different.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Fascinating snippet about Saj Karim
Written by Paul on Friday, December 07, 2007
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From Oldham Chronicle, 29 November:
"Party members foil poll plot
UNDERHAND tactics to swell membership of the local Liberal Democrat party to influence a poll have been uncovered by party members.
The bizarre plot included inventing names and enlisting people without their consent to garner more votes.
Now local members have demanded rule changes to safeguard the political process.
A report to the party’s Oldham Executive, seen by the Chronicle, reveals deep unease at the suspicious surge in party membership last year.
It’s believed the recruitment campaign was organised by people trying to influence the selection of candidates for the European Parliament election in 2009.
In the North-West European constituency, 1,200 people, including 124 in Oldham, suddenly joined the party — but were found not to be genuine members. However, the Chronicle understands that any such plan was unknowingly scuppered by Lib-Dem leaders when they brought forward the vote for candidates for the Euro elections.
Under Lib-Dem rules, memberships have to have been in place for a year before members are allowed a vote — ruling out all the new, suspect, members. Subsequently none of the new members renewed their membership and have now disappeared.
Long-standing MEP Chris Davies was recently selected as the main candidate with Sajjad Karim following just behind to battle for one of the North-West’s seats.
But Mr Karim defected this week to the Conservatives saying the Lib-Dems were a spent force and the Tory leader’s recent comments about immigration had persuaded him to jump ship.
The Lib-Dems in turn suggested Mr Karim switched parties because he was not placed top of the list.
The report says an unusual membership recruitment campaign directed at the Asian community was organised in the wards of Medlock Vale, St Mary’s, Waterhead and Werneth without the knowledge of any party officials, officers or councillors.
Multiple applications were made from single addresses, including 22 new members appearing to live at three houses.
More than 25 per cent of the new members were not listed on the electoral register, while some were not resident at the address given or were not UK nationals. Postal votes in any selection contest would therefore be fraudulent.
The party’s own inquiries revealed that some of the new members did not exist, some could not speak English, others were women who said their husbands controlled their voting intentions, one denied being a Lib-Dem member and several said they voted for another party.
The report states: “The executive of Oldham local party is extremely concerned that an attempt may have been made to influence the selection of Lib-Dem candidates in a manner which is either fraudulent — in so much as party members may not exist or be resident locally — or which does not permit informed free choice.”
It was feared members of other parties could be in a position to influence the selection of Lib-Dem candidates and that information the Lib-Dems send to members could be given to other parties.
The Oldham executive has called for an investigation to establish who organised the recruitment exercise and if it has happened elsewhere.
Chairman Alan Roughley said: “An unusually large number joined by the internet who were unknown to the party. There was an attempt to check on some of these to see if they were genuine and they found a number of inconsistencies.
“I am concerned enough to try to take it up with the national party chief executive. We have called for the rules to be revised. We are robust in attempting to stamp out infiltration.”
Party rules allow for a six-week period for membership applications to be challenged, but local members have called for this to be lengthened. However, such a change can only be decided at the national party conference.
Sgt Terry Broome, an expert on electoral law, said internal issues were a matter for the party. But if any of the suspect members’ names went on to the electoral register, or were registered or used for postal votes, offences would be committed, including personation.
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