Ex-MP will not be prosecuted over poll slurs

An election court declared last year’s Oldham East and Saddleworth contest void after finding that Labour victor Mr Woolas had made false statements about the Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins.

The ex-Immigration Minister was later dropped by the party.

In a statement yesterday, the CPS said it had considered the judgment of the election court and had decided a police investigation into his conduct was not required because a prosecution would not be in the public interest.

Simon Orme, reviewing lawyer for the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “The Election Court has already decided that Philip Woolas did make false statements about an opponent.

“As a result, Mr Woolas lost his seat in Parliament and was banned from standing for election for three years.

“When deciding to prosecute, we must consider whether a sufficient civil penalty has already been imposed on the suspect.

“In the circumstances, I have concluded that the serious nature of the allegations has been adequately addressed and it is unlikely that a criminal court would impose any significant further penalty.

“On that basis, a prosecution is not needed in the public interest.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions has a statutory duty to make inquiries and begin proceedings after he is notified that an electoral offence may have been committed, the CPS said. Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 prohibits making false statements about the personal character or conduct of another candidate during a campaign for the purposes of affecting the election. The election of Mr Woolas was declared void on November 5. Labour’s Debbie Abrahams comfortably held the seat at the subsequent by-election in January.

Mr Woolas initially won the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat by 103 votes after two recounts at May’s General Election. But defeated Mr Watkins complained that two particular publications contained “numerous misleading and erroneous claims” regarding his character and reputation, and that of his campaign.