PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
THE RIGHT HON. MEMBER FOR CHINGFORD & WOODFORD GREEN AND DAME SHIRLEY PORTER (10 June 2003)

That this House notes that in December 2001 the Law Lords delivered a unanimous judgement that Dame Shirley Porter and David Weeks, two Conservative ex-leaders of Westminster City Council, were guilty of 'deliberate, blatant and dishonest abuse of public power' amounting to 'political corruption'; further notes that on 30th May 2003 the European Court of Human Rights rejected Dame Shirley Porter's appeal as 'manifestly ill-founded' and 'inadmissible', and that there is now no further legal recourse available to her; further notes that she is liable for a surcharge which, with interest, totals in excess of ú37 million towards which she has so far contributed ú3,000 and a gold-plated toilet seat; recalls the numerous undertakings given to the House by Conservative ministers of the day that, once the judicial process had been exhausted and the charges of gerrymandering upheld, they would condemn the perpetrators; in particular recalls the assurance of the Right honourable Member for Chingford and Woodford Green that they 'must be subject to the due process of law and that if they are found guilty they should be sanctioned accordingly' 14th May 1996, Official Report, column 849; and calls on the Right honourable Member unequivocally and without further delay to fulfil his pledge and do what no senior Conservative has done to date by apologising publicly for the crimes committed in his party's name and, should she remain a member, expel Dame Shirley Porter from the Conservative Party.

Sponsored by:
Peter Bradley (Labour)