Exclusive: Watkins mulls more legal action against Labour
Labour figures close to former MP Phil Woolas could find themselves facing further legal action from the Liberal Democrats’ Elwyn Watkins.
The Lib Dems’ candidate for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election will consider his options after voting takes place in the constituency this Thursday, he told politics.co.uk last night.
The by-election follows an election court’s decision to overturn the May 2010 result, which saw Mr Watkins lose to Labour’s Mr Woolas by just 103 votes.
Five high court judges found Mr Woolas was guilty of misrepresentation – including election literature which suggested Mr Watkins was associated with extremist Muslims.
Concerns about the fact that one member of Mr Woolas’ staff continues to hold a public position was raised at a Muslim community hustings event in Glodwick, Oldham, yesterday evening.
“They were laughing and joking as they did this,” Mr Watkins replied.
“It’s simply unacceptable. I had the court case, I have the election now. Certainly afterwards, I shall be looking into that.”
Asked after the event how concrete his plans were, Mr Watkins told politics.co.uk: “I’ve proved in a high court to a high level of proof that he completely lied about me,” he said.
“I don’t need to prove I can jump over a three-foot fence when I’ve jumped over a ten-foot one. I’m waiting until after the election and I’m going to sit down with my lawyers.”
Mr Woolas’ actions have overshadowed the present campaign. A Lib Dem leaflet distributed yesterday contrasts Mr Woolas’ “lies and failure” with contradictory statements made by Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams relating to her home address.
