The Electoral Commission has today confirmed that it has decided to place Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith’s electoral expenses under review.
In response to evidence provided by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the Commission replied with a letter saying: “The assessment of the information indicated that there was the possibility of a failure to comply with the Representation of the People Act 1983 (RPA) and that further enquiries should be made in order to establish the facts of the matter.”
This follows a joint investigation by the Bureau and Channel 4 News, broadcast last Thursday, which asked questions about how Goldsmith stayed within the Electoral Commission spending limit of £11,003 during his campaign for Richmond Park in the 23 days running up to polling day.
Goldsmith’s declaration, signed on 7 June, states that he came £220 below this with a campaign total of £10,783. However, when Channel 4 News and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism looked at his receipts in detail, there were some puzzling items – involving the cost of jackets, signs and leaflets. You can see the full report here.
Goldsmith has repeatedly claimed that his campaign adhered to the spirit and the letter of the rules and dismissed the investigation as “shoddy and disreputable journalism”. Goldsmith has also suggested he was targeted because he was a “high profile” figure and suggested he was denied a right of reply on Thursday night’s programme.
Channel 4 News has repeatedly stood by its investigation and dealings with Mr Goldsmith since the broadcast.
In a heated interview with Jon Snow on Friday’s Channel 4 News, Goldsmith referred to election ‘trikes’ that he had omitted from his declaration. The Electoral Commission has confirmed that these will also be taken into account as part of the review.
Jim Gray, Editor of Channel 4 News comments: “We welcome the decision by the Electoral Commission to probe further into the questions our report raised. The report had implications not just for Goldsmith, but for other MPs, and for public trust in the political system.
It is a great vindication of our journalism to see the electoral authority take these issues so seriously. Meanwhile, our investigation into electoral expenses continues….”
In a statement released today, Goldsmith said: “I welcome the review and both my agent and I will help it in every way possible. It will find that we were absolutely scrupulous at every stage in insuring that our election spending complied with the letter and the spirit of the rules.
We followed to the letter the formula which we and all MPs and candidates were given.”
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:16 pm (#)
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