Imagine if we had a legal system whereby if the police wanted to investigate a bank robbery, they had to seek the permission from a member the gang that robbed the bank to do so.
Well, that’s the position of the Electoral Commission who are responsible for investigating wrong doing/illegal activity in UK elections.
Apparently the Tories got fed up with the Electoral Commission investigating their law breaking at election time – so Boris Johnson (who he?) changed it such that they need the approval of the appropriate Secretary of State to investigate illegal electoral activity.
The drivel in the youtube video (totally unsuitable for Tory supporter viewing) is worth watching in its entirety – but if you want the bit about the Electoral Commission it’s 4:45 – 6:00.
where were the Electoral Commission when Lutfur Rahman was busy getting himself corruptly elected as mayor of Tower Hamlets?
Q/V Erlam vs Rahman, Andy Erlam, one of the petitioners, described the commission as "remote and defensive", even when presented with incontrovertible evidence.
If I was given the task of writing Labour’s election manifesto, I would certainly include a pledge to give the Electoral Commission their independence back – if only for the purpose of highlighting the Tory corruption in removing it.
I was completely unaware of this piece of Tory corruption until seeing the youtube video – I suspect most UK citizens are equally ignorant of it.