New Angus Reid Poll – Lib Dems Up 3%

The first non-YouGov opinion poll of 2011 has been published by Angus Reid showing something of a Lib Dem jump to 12%:

                Conservative 35% (no change)

 

                Labour 40% (down 1%)

 

                                                             Lib Dem 12% (up 3%)

 

Changes shown are compared to the last Angus Reid poll published on 20 December.

Former Labour MP Jailed for Stealing Tax Payers’ Money

David Chaytor

Today former Labour MP David Chaytor (61) was sentenced following his conviction for defrauding the tax payer to line his own pockets from the Parliamentary expenses system. This further example of Labour corruption was rewarded with an 18 month jail sentence, reduced from 2 years in recognition of Chaytor’s guilty plea.

The former Labour MP for Bury North was found to have swindled the tax-payer of more than £18,000 by falsely claiming for services that he didn’t have to pay for, rent for a flat that he partly owned, and for a mortgage that didn’t exist. He admitted three charges of false accounting.

Two more Labour MPs are facing court for fiddling their expenses and two more are believed to still be under investigation. Whilst all parties had MPs who were revealed to have dubious Parliamentary expenses claims, only Labour MPs have so far been found to have committed offences serious enough to warrant prosecution. This of course comes less than a week before voters go to the polls in the Oldham East & Saddleworth by-election which was caused by the disqualification of former Labour MP Phil Woolas for knowingly lying about his Lib Dem opponent.

It is believed that Chaytor will begin his sentence in Wandsworth prison.