Alan Bown Trial - Monday 23rd July

John Doe · 03-08-2007, 03:59 PM

From the sound of it, a lot of trouble could have been avoided if UKIP had handed back the money last year in order that Mr Bown could then donate a similar sum in return.

By holding out against the Electoral Commission, UKIP may have to pay the money the the government instead.

mkpdavies · 03-08-2007, 04:13 PM

There has to be more to it really, doesn't there.

Barboo · 04-08-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

But the key point is the guidence notes that accompanied the law. Guidence notes are published to explain the context and give the spirit of the law to assist with interpretation. These state that the law is designed to prevent "foreign and anonymous donors from buying influence".

Alan Bown clearly does not fall in that criteria, it was an innocent mistake, he was on the electoral roll before and is back on it now, he is not anonymous and certainly not foreign. I think that was the basis of the UKIP case.

If after five years of the PPERA the UKIP treasurer didn't know that he wasn't allowed to accept donations from someone not on the electoral roll, it was incompetence. If he did know but didn't bother to check in Alan Bown's case, then it was negligence. And if he knew, checked, found AB to be an impermissible donor but accepted the money anyway, it was arrogant disregard for the law. No way can any of that be described as either 'innocent' or a 'mistake'.

BASILDON BOY · 04-08-2007, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barboo

If after five years of the PPERA the UKIP treasurer didn't know that he wasn't allowed to accept donations from someone not on the electoral roll, it was incompetence. If he did know but didn't bother to check in Alan Bown's case, then it was negligence. And if he knew, checked, found AB to be an impermissible donor but accepted the money anyway, it was arrogant disregard for the law. No way can any of that be described as either 'innocent' or a 'mistake'.

UKIP - no excuses regarding 'impermissible donations'
On the 5th April 2001 Sir Jack Hayward made a £25,000 donation to the United Kingdom Independence Party. It was established by the Electoral Commission that he was not on the electoral roll. The impermissible payment was returned by UKIP to the donor on the 30th October 2001. This incident has always acted as a reminder to UKIP Head Office that ensuring your donors are on the electoral register is vitally important. In this earlier case the donor's wife, Lady Hayward, replaced the shortfall a few months later.

John de Roeck a former UKIP Treasurer confirmed that he amended the forms supplied to the Party by the Electoral Commission and added a space for the Electoral Registration number on the forms against each donation. He confirmed the reason was simply to have a reminder on the donation reporting form to avoid later problems that may have occurred if unavailable, and to avoid having to refer back to Treasurers. Treasurers who had difficulties obtaining Electoral Registration numbers were recommended to obtain them from their local Returning Officers. The Electoral Commission would verify these roll numbers as a matter of course.

For all of Nigel Farage's whinging and moaning of 'establishment conspiracies' and blaming everyone else, he can't make any excuses. The mess UKIP finds themselves in with the Electoral Commission is of their very own making due to their tardy book keeping.

SponPlague · 07-08-2007, 09:26 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6934576.stm

Quote:

UKIP awaits verdict on donations

UKIP says it could be left "penniless"
The UK Independence Party is waiting to find out whether it must forfeit £367,697 in "impermissible" donations.
The Electoral Commission says it broke the law by accepting money from former bookmaker Alan Bown, whose name was not on the electoral register.

But UKIP, which has 10 MEPs, said this was caused by a clerical error.

Westminster magistrates are to decide whether the party must forfeit the money, which would go into central government funds.

Party leader Nigel Farage has warned that a verdict against UKIP could leave it "penniless".

Mr Bown has donated more than £1m to UKIP in recent years.

The 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act forbids taking money from certain "impermissible donors," normally people or organisations not registered in the UK.

Parties have up to 30 days from the date the donation was received to return the money to the donor.

UKIP was formed in 1993 to campaign for Britain's exit from the European Union.

Since taking over as leader last year, Mr Farage has attempted to broaden its appeal to attract Conservatives disaffected with David Cameron's leadership.

TomPhil · 07-08-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

"UKIP forced to forfeit donations"

The UK Independence Party must forfeit £18,481 in "impermissible" donations, a court has ruled.
The party had feared it would face financial ruin after the Electoral Commission said it should be forced to pay out as much as £367,697.

But it was told it only had to hand over £14,481 in donations made by retired bookmaker Alan Bown at a time when he was not on the electoral roll.

UKIP also had to forfeit £4,000 from Isle of Man-registered firm Nitech.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6934576.stm

Michael Heaver · 07-08-2007, 10:45 AM

Good result then?

ukipteen · 07-08-2007, 11:52 AM

In financial terms yes, it could have been worse. But it will do nothing for our reputation.

Another silly **** up, things like this which could be avoided affect us in more ways than we could imagine.

komerad · 07-08-2007, 12:27 PM

Yes, it could have been very much worse. Somebody loves us!!!
However, If I was in a position to donate a sizeable sum as this was, only to find it was forfeited because of the incompetence of the receiver, I don’t think I would be able to donate again to the same cause.
AB’s a bloody hero !!.

Zak64 · 07-08-2007, 12:46 PM

The Grauniad has covered it.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/fundi...143416,00.html

The sinister bit is the fact that the Electoral Commission is considering an appeal !

03-08-2007, 04:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	There has to be more to it really, doesn't there. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

07-08-2007, 12:46 PM	#20 (permalink)
Zak64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Little Poland On Sea (Bournemouth) Posts: 689	The Grauniad has covered it. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/fundi...143416,00.html The sinister bit is the fact that the Electoral Commission is considering an appeal ! __________________ If anyone complains about unlimited mass immigration we call them a racist - it's our culture!

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03-08-2007, 03:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
John Doe Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 87	From the sound of it, a lot of trouble could have been avoided if UKIP had handed back the money last year in order that Mr Bown could then donate a similar sum in return. By holding out against the Electoral Commission, UKIP may have to pay the money the the government instead.

07-08-2007, 10:45 AM	#17 (permalink)
Michael Heaver Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 393 Party: UKIP	Good result then?

07-08-2007, 11:52 AM	#18 (permalink)
ukipteen Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 190	In financial terms yes, it could have been worse. But it will do nothing for our reputation. Another silly **** up, things like this which could be avoided affect us in more ways than we could imagine.

07-08-2007, 12:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
komerad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cardiff. S.Wales Posts: 558	Yes, it could have been very much worse. Somebody loves us!!! However, If I was in a position to donate a sizeable sum as this was, only to find it was forfeited because of the incompetence of the receiver, I don’t think I would be able to donate again to the same cause. AB’s a bloody hero !!.