Lib Dems suspend candidate over fraud allegations
By politics.co.uk staff
A parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats faces investigation after allegations that he defrauded students of £5,000 emerged.
Vincent McKee, a 52-year-old lecturer who belongs to Coventry’s Institute of Colleges and University Teachers, was implicated in defrauding students of tuition fees worth thousands of pounds, Sky News reported.
Its investigation claimed students and their parents who had taken on Dr McKee’s private tuition and given him their bank details had found substantial sums of money missing from their accounts.
“With the support of the federal party, the regional party launched an immediate investigation,” a Liberal Democrat spokesperson said.
“Dr McKee has been suspended from the party, pending the outcome of further investigations. The party will work with all other authorities involved in this matter.”
One student, Ivie Ogodan, told Sky News that £685 was taken out of her account after she gave Dr McKee her bank details. She had only intended to pay him £90.
In another case £3,260 was removed from a mother’s account, Sky News claimed.
Dr McKee has fought four general elections for the Liberal Democrats, most recently Coventry South in 2001 and 2005.
He denied the allegations to Sky News, who he accused of conducting “scum journalism”.
