Lawmakers cannot be law breakers. This is even more crucial when it comes to being chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee which influences the drafting of criminal laws.
Jeremy Corbyn said on Sunday that he didn’t believe that Keith Vaz had broken the law so it was a “private matter”.
The CPS prosecutors guidance for the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is relevant here
Evidence of intent to supply
An intention to supply may be proved by direct evidence in the form of admissions or witness testimony, for example, surveillance evidence …
Offering/being concerned
In addition to the supply of a controlled drug, section 4(3)(a)-(c) of the Act creates offences of offering to supply, being concerned in the supply and being concerned in the making of an offer to supply.
An offence of offering to supply can be prosecuted simply by proving the existence of an offer. The prosecution does not have to prove either that the defendant intended to produce the drugs or that the drugs were in his possession. The offer may be by words or conduct (R v Showers [1995] Crim. LR 400).
Vaz, in offering to buy cocaine for the rent boy, has broken laws which he helped to draft. Even if you take the view that Guido does that this is a bad law, one thing is certain, “Lawmakers cannot be law breakers”…
UPDATE: A previous version of this article quoted from the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which came into force on May 26 this year, this also makes it an offence to produce, supply or offer to supply psycho-active substances – this counter-intuitively does not include cocaine.
Keith Vaz was under police investigation over year ago on suspicion of financial corruption and historic allegations of under-age sex. Speaker Bercow was informed of this and fellow MPs demanded – Andrew Bridgen in writing – that he step down from his position on the Home Affair Select Committee. The Speaker protected Vaz…
It is widely known around Westminster that Vaz – who owes his career to Greville Janner – was the unidentified MP in this Sun front page from last year.
Guido has been hinting for years about the dark side of Keith Vaz. Vaz offering to buy cocaine for rent boys is at the mild end of Vaz’s sleazy life and times. More is to come out about the disgusting Vaz that will truly shock Westminster…
Remember the curiously-timed revelation that Steven Woolfe was once nicked for being drunk in charge of a scooter? Well, a member of the public – surely not a rival ‘Kipper – called the cops and complained that he had broken the law again by failing to declare his conviction when he ran as a Police and Crime Commissioner. Greater Manchester Police have seen sense and told the complainant to stop being so silly, confirming he faces no further action. Woolfe says it was part of a plot:
“This was one of several attempts by political opponents, using information on UKIP databases, to damage my reputation and ensure I could not stand as party leader.”
Someone certainly has it in for him…
Debate this morning is turning to the security measures employed by MPs. Colleagues note that Jox Cox’s constituency surgery at Birstall Library yesterday was an “open surgery”. The time, date and location were advertised on her website:
Thursday 16th June – 1pm until 2pm
@ Birstall Library and Information Centre
Market Street, Birstall, WF17 9EN
Some MPs already refuse to hold open surgeries and do not publish times and locations, instead requiring constituents to make an appointment before they are given details. Expect more to follow – MPs tell Guido they want some level of vetting or checking of names against the electoral roll. This is a difficult square to circle – accessibility to MPs is important at a time when the public feel politicians are ever more out of touch. It makes Jo Cox’s openness all the more admirable…
If you speak to any MP, especially female MPs, they will have stories about intimidation and aggression they have faced at constituency surgeries. Most MPs will have had to get the police involved at some point. Guido has lost count of the number of staffers who have had physical altercations with lunatics at surgeries. One MP tells Guido that US Congressman are given police protection and they feel British MPs – particularly women MPs – should too. It is a crazy world, there will always be nutters in every constituency who harass MPs and their staff in person. It is difficult to legislate for – but expect new measures to be brought in following yesterday’s events…
Lancashire Constabulary confirm they have been granted a year-long extension to investigate Cat Smith’s election expenses. Here we go…
How Guido uncovered Cat Smith’s expenses irregularities:
Crick covered Guido’s story last night that the Tories had lawyered up in their row with the Electoral Commission. Meanwhile, the Labour press office are spinning a line responding to our revelation that 17 of their candidates failed to declare battle buses. Labour tell the Times:
“This was part of a nationally branded tour so the transport costs are rightly national spend. Labour’s spending is within the law and the rules set out by the Electoral Commission.”
Below is taken from page 25 of Harriet Harman’s official internal Labour General Election Report. In their own words, Labour admit that the four buses were “dedicated to supporting marginal seats”, not the national campaign. The report explains how campaigners worked “with nearby marginal seats and given incentives to prioritise work in those areas”.
There it is in black and white: Labour’s buses worked to support marginal seats, not the national campaign. Electoral Commission rules are clear, this should have been declared as part of each local campaign. Bang to rights…
