Cleared Tory candidate wants to `help abolish` Electoral Commission for inquiry ‘witch-hunt’

A general election candidate has called for “heads to roll” at the Electoral Commission after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decision not to bring criminal charges against dozens of Conservative politicians caught up in the 2015 campaign expenses investigation.

Karl McCartney, who is seeking re-election as MP for Lincoln and was one of the 30 Tory candidates investigated by 14 police forces across 27 parliamentary constituencies, claims the regulator`s positions – from chief executive Claire Bassett down – are “untenable”, and they should all resign.

Mr McCartney, who faced police inquiries into campaigners being bussed into his constituency at the last general election, said the process had been nothing but a “witch-hunt”.

If returned to Westminster after June 8, he said he intends to “persuade” the newly-elected Government to “abolish this incompetent organisation” – ensuring the senior management team “never play a role in our country’s public life again”. The Commission`s actions had rendered it “wholly unfit for purpose”.

The Lincoln politician, one of 14 Tory MPs in the last Parliament told on Wednesday (May 10) they would not face criminal charges, claimed that all the main political parties had always “taken the view” that nationally-directed battlebus campaigns are part of the national expense return.

He added: “In these circumstances we would have no reason to declare battlebusses as a local expense.

“Indeed, I was very clearly told and, confirmed in writing, by CCHQ that the bus would be visiting Lincoln as part of CCHQ’s national spending.”

On the question of the Commission team resigning, he said: “If the leaders of the Electoral Commission do not take this most honourable course of action, as public servants paid for by the taxpayer, I, and no doubt my colleagues who have been victims of the Electoral Commission’s witch-hunt, will take every opportunity after the general election to persuade the newly-elected Government to abolish this incompetent organisation and ensure that those who comprise the Electoral Commission’s executive team and senior management group are never to play a role in our country’s public life again.”

The outburst from Mr McCartney, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, came as senior Tories complained that the investigations into their 2015 election expenses were “politically motivated”.

Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin said the complaints had “wasted police time” – and he warned Conservative critics that they could face legal action if they made “false and malicious claims” online.

“After a very thorough investigation, we are pleased that the legal authorities have confirmed what we believed was the case all along: that these Conservative candidates did nothing wrong,” said Mr McLoughlin.

“These were politically motivated and unfounded complaints that have wasted police time. We are glad that this matter is finally resolved.

“A number of false and malicious claims continue to be spread on the internet. People should be aware that making false claims about a candidate’s personal character and conduct is an electoral offence, as well as being defamatory.”

Theresa May has insisted Conservative candidates “properly recorded” their 2015 election expenses – despite the CPS finding evidence the returns were inaccurate.

Although the CPS found “evidence to suggest the returns may have been inaccurate”, there was no basis to prove that any candidate or agent had deliberately acted dishonestly – the standard required for prosecution.

Despite these findings, the Prime Minister appeared to suggest late on Wednesday that the CPS had vindicated Tory claims that candidates’ returns had been correct.

“I’m pleased that what we see of course is that after full and lengthy investigation the legal authorities have confirmed what we believed all along and what we said all along, which was that the expenses, that local spending was properly reported, was properly declared and that the candidates had done nothing wrong,” she said at a camp