Have the Liberal Democrats changed their own rules to allow a convicted councillor to stand?
Above is part of a Liverpool Liberal Democrat party nomination form for candidates for elections.
As you can see it clearly states: "Please confirm you are not barred from standing due to any of these reasons:
"Corrupt and illegal practices - people who have been guilty of corrupt or illegal practices under the Representation of the People Act are disqualified from being a candidate."
This would appear to disqualify in fairly categorical terms Steve Hurst, convicted of breaking the Representation of the People Act.
Cllr Hurst's term of office representing Wavertree comes to an end next year.
This is what the national Lib-Dem office says though: "Councillor Hurst declared his conviction to his local party in line with their standard approval procedures and has been re-approved for selection by his local party".
Council leader Warren Bradley says its an internal matter and declines to comment.
But the question that must be asked is - have the Liberal Democrats changed their own rules to allow a convicted councillor to stand?
As reported today the issue is causing some ructions in the party locally.
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David Bartlett - City editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs. He was previously chief reporter of the Daily Post and here he gives his insight into the workings of regional politics.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-spivs-r-us.html
Here is one we did earlier with a reply that I sent to Colin Hilton who Warren Bradley helped pick for Chief Executive.
I am shocked and sickened that the Lib Dem administration should change the rules to allow Councillor Hurst to continue. His offence was appalling and he should have been removed from office instantly. Have they no integrity?
Correct. The Lib Dems have no integrity. To be honest, they have no leadership either. While Brown and Cameron are falling over themselves to punish scumbags in their respective parties, Nick Clegg is content to allow Warren Bradley to support a convicted criminal.