Judges order election re-run

TWO judges have ordered a re-run of the election for a parliamentary seat in northern England after Labour MP Phil Woolas was ruled to have made false statements about his Liberal Democrat rival.

A specially convened court took the rare step of declaring void the result of the general election poll in Oldham East and Saddleworth after finding former immigration minister Woolas guilty of illegal practices under electoral law.

The by-election to be held will test the strength of support for the LibDems following their decision to enter coalition with the Conservatives in May. Opinion polls show their support has plunged since they entered the alliance.

The re-run will also pit coalition partners against each other in a parliamentary election for the first time since the election six months ago.

Woolas had squeezed home in the election, holding on to his seat with a majority of just 103 votes over LibDem rival Elwyn Watkins.

But he was accused of attacking his opponent’s personal conduct and character by claiming that he courted Muslim militants who had advocated violence against the Labour MP.

He had suggested Watkins had refused to condemn such threats in pursuit of personal advantage. Both statements were untrue and Woolas knew them to be, the judges said, according to a report from the Press Association.