Petition to declare election null and void goes to SIC
Peter JohnsonA petition lodged with the Court of Session to have the election of Alistair Carmichael as Orkney and Shetland MP declared void has been published by the SIC on its website.
The petition, from four named Orkney constituents names Mr Carmichael as the first respondent and reurning officer, Orkney Islands Council chief executive, Alistair Buchan as the second respondent.
It can be viewed at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/elections/documents/CertifiedCopyofElectionPetition.pdf
David Howell
This is good news for anyone who supports honesty and integrity in our political process.
Peter – as a journalist; would it be possible to find out who the person is, referred to as having “lost their job” because they have supported the campaign to declare the election result null & void, as advised by the People of Shetland group?
I for one, would be interested to know if this is true and how an employer can remove “employment” from an individual for taking a political or moral stance on any matter. Is that even legal?
George Kippets
David –
Under UK employment law anyone dismissed because of their political opinions or affiliation has an automatic right to go to an employment tribunal.
However, personally I don’t believe that any such thing has really happened.
Steven Jarmson
I would be doubtful anyone has lost their job over this issue.
Perhaps someone linked to this group has lost their job and is now claiming it was to do with being linked to this campaign.
I’m quite sure if they have indeed lost their job due to this being linked to this group we’ll be reading about an unfair dismissal case soon enough.
Mike Grant
I’m intrigued. Where was it mentioned that someone had lost their job for supporting the campaign? It is definitely illegal to dismiss someone for political views, by the way.
Gordon Harmer
It is all over Yes Orkney on Facebook Mike, but they do not say who it is for fear of prejudicing any forthcoming tribunal. But having said that, Facebook being Facebook I would have thought if it were true the name would be out there.
John Tulloch
People ask me “Why would it be so bad to have an SNP MP? Here’s why:
Shetland and Orkney traditionally vote pro-Union in referenda and because of their distinct nature, have enjoyed the right to “opt out”, if they vote No to a Scottish Yes.
This right is precious. Islanders can still vote to join an independent Scotland or remain with the rUK however it will be on their own, freshly negotiated terms, ratified by local referendum, as opposed to being frog marched to Holyrood.
The SNP detest this because without Shetland and Orkney they would lose the coveted strategic location of the isles and their natural resources. They are desperate to win political representation because they know Westminster will provide the opt-out.
Total control is imperative. Danus Skene is on record targeting the MP and MSP parliamentary seats AND control of the SIC.
Should they succeed, Shetlanders can wave goodbye to their “opt out” clause at the next referendum, possibly, 2018. SNP politicians are controlled by party chiefs.
In 2012 the SNP ordered their election-winning Argyll councillors not to enter a coalition administration because necessary cost cuts would be damaging for their referendum campaign. Several councillors resigned from the party and there was acrimony and chaos in the council for about two years.
The dictatorial SNP hierarchy will brook no talk of “opt outs” for the isles.
Steven Jarmson
Having just read the entire petition, and looked into the relevant laws, as a non-legally qualified “normal” person, I’m really struggling to see the legal case here.
No one running for election was mentioned in the memorandum. So there’s no “smear” against any candidate.
Carmichael did deliberately not confess immediately to agreeing to the memo being leaked. But, lets get serious and real, how many leaks happen, an awful lot, how many MPs lose their seats over them? None.
The SNP have in the past leaked stuff without consequence, so why is this any different.
The SNP have indeed lied about having information which never existed that was very important to a campaign aimed at making Scotland leave the UK, surely that’s much worse than just affecting a constituency result. Not that I think it would have made a difference.
If Carmichael had admitted the truth earlier all it would have done was polarise positions further, with the proNats going further into overdrive than they already are.
Carmichael would still have kept the seat. Perhaps with a larger majority as the overly bullying Nats would have driven even the most hardened non-voter to the polls.