Aardvark

From the Chichester UKIP letter, currently doing the rounds:

Ashley Mote** MEP*

As most of you will know, Ashley, who has worked extremely hard for our
cause, is serving a nine-month prison sentence for housing benefit
fraud. Together with over 100,000 other businesses at that time,
Ashley's collapsed as a result of John Major taking us into the Exchange
Rate Mechanism (ERM) which led to him claiming housing benefit. A
prison sentence of one year or less does not automatically mean
expulsion from being an MP or an MEP and we hope Ashley will, in due
course, be able to continue his sterling work in Brussels and Strasburg.


Note, the newsletter does not condemn Ashley Mote for defrauding Chichester District Council, but seems to imply that a failed businessman is entitled to fraudulently claim benefits. It is of course true that benefits are there for all of us, but only to the extent that we are entitled. When my business collapsed I claimed housing benefit, but the moment I was no longer eligible I cancelled the benefit and even returned an uncashed cheque.

Chichester UKIP even 'hope' that Ashley Mote will continue to represent us!!!!!

The people who have attached their e-mails to this ludicrous statement are:

bernard.a.smith@gmail.com and derekhunnikin@btinternet.com (who has asked for contributions to the newsletter)

It appears that convictions for 21 counts of dishonesty are no bar to being supported by Chichester Branch. How on earth can UKIP hope to retain credibility? Do we see Thanet Tories calling up Jonathan Aitken?

__________________
When in Woking do as the Wokes do.

"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

Michael Heaver

And thus UKIP is still a fringe Party with some very warped people enclosed within its ranks. Morons.

Jim Smith

Its on the UKIPWS website.

UKIP West Sussex - September '07

Along with criticsm of "Farago".

Barboo

Chichester UKIP people are neither warped nor moronic. They have worked with Ashley Mote over many years and presumably consider him a friend. Their committee does not condone his crime in its newsletter, but obviously wishes to express personal support for him. You are entitled to regard that as misguided, but not to insult people who have a sense of loyalty that is clearly foreign to you. Not everyone revels in sticking the boot in when someone is down, however much that person may have brought their misfortune on themselves.

Aardvark

Barboo, With respect, the newsletter, by hoping that AM will be back in the EU Parliament fighting fraud are being more than forgiving. There is no condemnation in their newsletter, no criticism, no understanding of how the general public will see this.

Every time I mention AM, or he is mentioned to me, the other person always comments adversely on the fact that he has retained his seat and that he draws a salary whilst in prison. Chichester UKIP make no comment on this.

It is noble of AMs friends to stand by him, but they have to understand that an election is impending and this item will be used freely, since it is on the Internet, by people like UKIP Watch. If I was a Tory or LibDem in Chichester I would view this newsletter as manna from heaven and would circulate it freely around the constituency. I would insist that everyone read it.

Obviously I am biased since I have already sued Ashley Mote for the money he owes me; I was after all only his researcher. I do think, however, that Chichester UKIP are detached from reality.

We will never defeat fraud in the EU if we are seen to be fraudulent ourselves (remember a cloud also hangs over Tom Wise).

I don't revel in sticking the boot in when someone is down, but Ashley Mote, who was described by a Crown Court judge as deceitful, should start to make amends and try to live a good and honest life when he comes out of prison. He is still, if you look at his website, unrepentant about his crimes and is even now trying to take Chichester DC to court to prove that he should have received the money he has obtained fraudulently. This despite the fact that a jury of his peers who heard all of the evidence decided he was guilty of 21 offences. The bloke has no remorse and when he reappears on the scene he will start banging on about being a political prisoner or some such drivel.

Ashley Mote is a convicted fraudster. His friends would be best employed advising him to keep his head down instead of gloating over the fact that he is in prison at taxpayers expense, after a costly trial that need not have happened had he not broken the law in the first place and claiming a salary to boot.

How much does a man have to rip off the taxpayer to be guilty of a crime in the eyes of UKIP Chichester Branch?

__________________
When in Woking do as the Wokes do.

"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

douglas denny

And so we have here the well-considered opinon of God do we?
The Almighty hath spoken! All bow to the shining wisdom pronounced!

-------------

Ashley Mote was well respected in the Chichester area because he worked very hard at the anti-EU cause in and around Chichester.

I knew him from the 2001 general election when he was 'pipped at the post' for selection as UKIP parliamentary candidate for Chichester by myself. He nevertheless came and helped at nearly all the public meetings I arranged in the constituency both with setting-up and with giving speeches. He worked very hard and was totally committed. I appreciated it then and I do now.

Later, he continued with the cause with his production of videos with Trevor Coleman which were very successful in spreading the message.

He came and helped in Chichester with speeches at the last general election too when I was again selected for the parliamentary candidate for Chichester.

There is no doubt he has indeed worked tirelessly for the anti-EU cause and moreover has been very effective.

It came as a bombshell to find just after he had been elected as an MEP that there were allegations of financial misapropriations of housing benefit by Chichester Council. He said the allegations were false and he would be exonerated.

I am truly sorry that he has been convicted of fraud, and wonder how it is that this could have occured with such a man who has nevertheless great qualities such as I have experienced.
One can only wonder why he put himself in this invidious position. It is a great shame for him personally , and a great shame for UKIP as he would have proved a great asset. Nigel needed the extra helping hand in the SE region and was denied this. UKIP needed the MEP in Brussels. The tragedy is conpounded for UKIP in that although he is convicted, his sentence allows him to continue as an MEP and thus UKIP is still denied the MEP they deserve from the Euro elections when Ashley was first elected under the UKIP banner. A double tragedy in fact.

I shall say that even though he is a convicted criminal of fraud I still consider him a friend. He must of course take whatever punishment is forthcoming, but the whole episode as a damned shame.

As our God-like interlocutor has probably never met Ashley, I wonder just exactly what HE has done to further the anti-EU cause? and whether he has managed to get through life totally blameless before casting his (moronic) stones?

Douglas Denny.
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Anthony Butcher

Making friends again Douglas?

I've never met AM either, but I can honestly say that I would be less than impressed if one of my friends was convicted of stealing money from tax payers, and was described by the judge as 'deceitful'. I certainly wouldn't be supporting his further involvement in anything to do with the eurosceptic movement and would expect him to quit his position and retire from public involvement before he damages the cause any more.

Are you really suggesting that you think that it is acceptable, or even wise, for him to continue as an MEP, criticising corruption the EU?

douglas denny

You will note I have made no judgemental comment at all about what I think he should do , or has done, or is to do. Nor have I commented on anything other than the facts of what he has done for me as a candidate and for Chichester UKIP and the anti-EU movement in general.

All I have said is I still consider him my friend (I do not know if he still considers me a friend) even though he is a convicted criminal of fraud.

I have a criminal for a friend. Hold that against me if you wish - that is for you to decide.

I shall not shun a friend just because he is a criminal. He will do his porridge; he will come out hopefully a chasened person who will not offend again. I hope he will continue to put as much enthusiasm into the anti_EU cause when he comes out of prison as he did before his misdemeanour.

Douglas.
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Aardvark

Sadly he is tainted goods. He can work behind the scenes for others, but, as with Profumo, he must stand down from public life.

He knows that he will be mocked in the EU if he ever raises the issue of fraud again - these are merciless politicians we are talking about not his friends. Even the nationalists and neo-fascists he hangs around with will think twice about being seen with him. Several of the French NF are senior lawyers with reputations to think of - they are the party of law and order after all.

Ashley, IMHO, is only hanging on for the money. He pays his wife as a researcher, always a bad sign in my view. It would be nice to think that his friends would give him some sound advice, but, from very bitter personal experience, Ashley doesn't know when he is being given good advice or told the truth.

I don't know when you're next likely to meet him, but I expect him to resist my claim and to meet me in court. It will be interesting to see if he is the same ebullient Ashley.

__________________
When in Woking do as the Wokes do.

"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

Rosie

I have spoken to our regional organiser about this and will be taking it up with the Party Chairman, I suggest others do too. I am disgusted that a branch of UKIP should condone a crook like Mote and even encourage him. What hope do we really have with idiots like that ruining the hard work of many people. I really do despair!