West Midlands Police investigating Sandwell councillors

Sandwell Council has referred a damning report into the conduct of some of its councillors to West Midlands Police's Regional Organised Crime Unit.

UKIP councillors have been pushing for investigations into dodgy dealings at Sandwell for some time. The Deputy Leader of the council and cabinet member for regeneration resigned in 2015 over allegations of wrongdoing relating to the sale of council property. The Deputy Leader failed to declare a financial interest in a company that got a large council contract, sold a council-owned property to his son on the cheap and then allegations of vote rigging were made.

Allegations of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office are being investigated by the police.

Oh, the irony ...

Former MEP Nikki Sinclaire fraud trial starts

Former We Demand a Referendum Now Party MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, went on trial today to answer 10 charges of fraud and misconduct brought on behalf of the EU's fraud investigation department, OLAF.

Sinclaire has been charged with misconduct in public office and transferring or converting criminal property (also known as money laundering).

Sinclaire was first elected to the EU Parliament as a UKIP MEP but was booted out of the party when she waged a divisive and destructive civil war after losing to Nigel Farage in a leadership election. She launched a sex discrimination case against the party and was awarded a default judgement after the party's lawyers missed the deadline to file their defence. UKIP was the first (and still only) party to have a transgender MEP.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

Bradford Labour councillor arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office

A Labour councillors in Bradford has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.

Cllr Naveeda Ikram - a former Lord Mayor of Bradford - was suspended by the Labour Party last year when accusations of financial irregularities emerged. She was arrested by West Yorkshire Police last week but has not been charged.

Labour councillor in Bournemouth refuses to help UKIP supporter

A formal complaint has been lodged with Bournemouth Borough Council after a Labour councillor refused to help a resident because they are a UKIP supporter.

Cllr Ben Grower responded to an email from a resident telling him that because he supports a "racist" party he wasn't to contact him again and would delete any future emails. Councillors are required to represent all constituents regardless of their political persuasion and refusing to do so is not only a breach of a council's code of conduct but a common law offence of misconduct in public office.

A public officer acting as such wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder without reasonable excuse or justification

Stafford Labour councillor charged with misconduct in public office

The Stafford Labour Party have suspended one of their councillors after he was charged with misconduct in public office.

Cllr Rowan Draper is the secretary of Littleworth Labour and a founder member of Young Labour. The Staffordshire Newsletter have tried to get more information on the misconduct charge but the Labour Party have closed ranks. The maximum punishment for misconduct in public office is life imprisonment.

Nikki Sinclaire denies charges of fraud and misconduct

Former We Demand a Referendum Party MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, has denied charges of money laundering, fraud and misconduct in a public office charges.

Sinclaire was formerly a UKIP MEP and prior to that a Conservative Party activist. She left UKIP under a cloud after losing a leadership battle against Nigel Farage and throwing her teddies out of her pram.

She was charged at Birmingham Crown Court with misconduct in a public office by making, or causing to be made, false or dishonest claims for travel expenses. She was also charged with fraudulently transferring criminal property into her bank account.

A trial date has been set for October 19th with a pre-trial review on October 2nd.

Nikki Sinclaire charged with money laundering and misconduct in public office

Former MEP, Nikki Sinclaire, was bailed to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 7th January where she will face charges of money laundering and misconduct in public office.

Sinclaire is a former Conservative who joined UKIP, got elected as an MEP, lost a challenge against Nigel Farge's leadership, went into open revolt against the party, got booted out, formed the We Demand a Referendum Now Party and lost her seat. She has been under investigation by the EU's anti-fraud organisation, OLAF and West Midlands Police for some time.