Well, it looks like I'll have another unwanted few articles for my political scrapbook coming up.A recent silly post (long deleted) centred on what I thought at the time was the harmless gossip of postal ballot results has resulted in nothing less than a police investigation. Journalists have been queuing up with questions which is never the nicest state of affairs, though I have to say some of them have been perfectly decent and generously fairminded about the whole thing, which has been much appreciated.
I have not been contacted by the authorities but I am confident that I am easily contactable if they do need to get in touch. The first I read about all of this was on a blog late last night and I'll also say that I put the blog post up the day before a similar stooshie centred around Kerry McCarthy.
And fair enough, rules are there for a reason and if I have fallen foul of that then I'll have to face up to it and take whatever penalty is due on the chin but I hope that an honest mistake, based out of ingnorance and corrected as soon the particular rule on elections was pointed out to me, will be taken into account. I hope it's pretty clear that there was nothing sinister in what was one of thousands of blog posts that I have on here. It certainly didn't cross my mind at the time that I might be flouting a rule with what I wrote. Naivety, not for the first time in this wonderful life that I am enjoying, has been my undoing.
I shall interject at this point just to say that the legal wording is hazy even for the experts. According to Carl Gardner of Head of Legal, Kerry McCarthy (and hopefully by extension myself) is innocent. I hope a lot of people read this chap's blog.
Fair play to whoever turned me over but I don't think there'll be one less criminal roaming these streets and internet cables as a result so the point of the exercise is somewhat lost on me. However, as is evident, I'm no expert on such matters so maybe it will prove to be worthwhile after all. We'll just have to see how events unfold. (I will gladly offer my wrist for a slapping by the way...)
I am sure noone gained an advantage from the blog post, that was certainly not its intent, and I am sure that not one single vote will be changed as a result of it.
I should also point out here that I have cancelled my membership of the SNP. I only joined the party as I believed it was appropriate to nail your political colours to the mast but I feel that my particular colours are bowing that mast rather than helping it stand tall in order to sail with a stronger purpose in the party's particular direction. The SNP will always have my vote when it is on the ballot slip in front of me but sadly there shall be no Conferences or branch meetings for me in the foreseeable future, not that there was that many in my past.
I heard that Kerry McCarthy "kicked herself" when she made a similar mistake on her Twitter account. I don't quite see it that same way as I went in with both eyes open, just with a mind ignorant of the related rules. The fact that I've never been to an election count may have something to do with that.
So, well, we'll see. I'd say I'll keep readers posted on what happens next but I rather suspect I may not have to.
And hey, at least my Wikio ranking might go up this month. Isn't that all this blogging game is about after all?
49 comments:
Jeff
Rather sad that you have felt the need to cancel your SNP membership.
I hope you renew your membership soon.
No one will bother you now that you are no longer a nasty "cybernat"
Politics is a savage beast Jeff. You are just a small flea that attracted an idle scratch. Chin up, life is unfair and all that, it could just as easily been me. Michael
Admittedly, it wasn't smart to refer "Postal vote news" and "canvass returns". But it is simply cowardly that the rat who grassed on you chose to go straight the police and the press, instead of commenting on the article or contacting you with his/her concerns.
The difference between you and Kerry4MP is that you are not a candidate. Besides being an SNP voter, you have no vested interest. And unlike Kerry4MP, you never spoke about actual results, just "encouraging news" in a brief post. You didn't really reveal anything at all.
Interesting that Lothian and Borders police are making a public statement before even speaking with you. The police should be out catching real criminals like the former Labour councillor and drug abuser Steven Purcell and his gangster friends, rather than pursuing bloggers like you and Mark MacLachlan.
(I'm quite certain it isn't libellous to call Steven Purcell a criminal given that he has admitted as much).
Congratulations on your new readership!
Mark MacGregor
I imagine the first question the plod will ask you if they do get in touch is who was your source.
However, this just confirms a view that I have held for some time, that promoting postal voting to all and sundry regardless of circumstances is wrong. Especially if the votes are counted prior to the date of the ballot.
That to me seems antipathetic to the democratic process, and a betrayal of the voters, who I am quite sure naively imagine that their votes will sit securely somewhere until all the votes are counted at the same time. Which is what should happen.
Political parties should not be allowed to know how people are voting during the progress of an election, that gives them a heads up which they should not be entitled to. They should get information about people's voting intentions through chapping doors and talking to people. They should work for that information, not have it handed to them on a plate via attending postal counts.
Postal voting is becoming totally discredited in the electorate's eyes, and knowing that postal vote results are known before the ballot day, and political parties can amend their strategies accordingly, will only compound that.
Jeff,
I agree it's a shame you felt it necessary to cancel your membership.
If it's the post I'm thinking it was you certainly didn't reveal anything of substance!
Jeff, sorry to hear about your bit of bother. I hope that it is judged as a simple misunderstanding, and that it all gets cleared up quickly.
Personally, I think that the way you found out about this was pretty lousy to be honest. I am none to happy that another partisan blog was posting the news before you were told or anyone announced anything officially either. Did they even bother to do you the courtesy of contacting you for comment or to check their facts?
You run a great Scottish politics blog, very interesting and wide ranging too, even if you are dyed in the wool Nat. :D I have you slotted in there on my bookmarks with Iain Dale&Co as a daily must read.
Just keep doing what you do best, and don't let them get you down.
Sorry to hear about that Jeff. Hope you're ok.
I do feel sorry for you, but I was shocked about your post at the time. I didn't realise it was illegal either, however it did strike me as a breach in the trust of people who vote by post.
I think the danger of being a partisan blogger, even a reasonably-balanced one like you, is that it is very easy to get caught up in the exuberance of the election.
Objectivity is more valuable than cheerleading and you are so much better at this than most other bloggers. It's why I read your blog, even though I don't agree with your fundamental premise.
Jeff,
I share the sentiments of the other posters on here thus far, keep doing what your doing, let the fine chaps and lassies at L&B carry out their enquiries, and everything will come good.
I did read the particular blog post you mention
, but it did not seem to me to be in anyway wrong or dodgy.
Not as bad as Kerry4MP - which had all the numbers ( however dubious) and details displayed.
I look forward to reading your future posts on this fine blog and hope that sometime in the future you will come out the cold and support the SNP in future.
Sorry to read of more woe for you. When I saw the postal vote article article I thought you must be a clairvoyant as the postal votes were not to opened until that day. Someone fixing you up?
Thanks folks, much appreciated.
Chin is up but laptop hood is down, for now.
Thanks folks, much appreciated.
Chin is up but laptop hood is down, for now.
Unlucky Jeff, 20 years ago a few whispers like this hardly got past the next street. Now, a twitter or two, a blog post and bang, it all moves at light speed.
The whole opening postal ballots thing to me is a nonsense and only creates this kind of daft outcome.
Carry on regardless, the blog is too good to die !
I am very disappointed at reading this news Jeff. I often read and comment on around 6 blogs and this was one of them.
I don't really understand what all the fuss is about but certainly someone was upset for some reason.
I hope you lift your Laptop up again and start back very soon.
All the best, Allan.
Terribly sorry to hear about what's happened, and I'm sure that you've done nothing wrong.
If it turns out that you need a few pounds, dollars, or euro's for a legal defense fund, I've just gained some disposable income.
That's extraordinarily kind of you William. I'm not short of a few bob so won't be necessary and still hopeful it won't come to that anyway.
So will you also remove 'SNP' from the title of your blog, as it has nothing whatsoever to do with the SNP?
Chin up ya muppet, we all make mistakes, yours isn't the first nor last, stand up for what you believe in Jeff. I can't understand why u cancelled your membership, it takes all sorts and no one is better than anyone else within the SNP.
Londistan is a pretty forgiving place you'll be okay to go away and luck your wounds, this will be over before you know it.
CD
Jeff
Sorry that you felt the need to cancel your membership but given the type of person that you are its entirely understandable and honourable.
Anyways, I never read your blog because you were a member of the SNP, I read your blog because it was informative and honest (mainly!).
Keep up the excellent blogging, it will all blow over in a couple of days and we will all be back to discussing the problems of having a Tory Government at Westminster but with no Scottish Tory MP’s elected.
the investigation seemingly originating in Linlithgow I have a hunch which blogging PPC has done me in. Fair play to him but I don't think there'll be one less criminal roaming these streets and internet cables as a result so the point of the exercise is somewhat lost on me.
Jeff hand on heart it wasnae me. As you are aware from my blog output I've been far too busy being a PPC to read, let alone write blogs in recent days.
Linlithgow is merely a coincidence I swear.
Jeff,
As a Lib Dem, it's not often I feel sympathy for an opponent, but I have to side with you here. People make mistakes, and our police don't have enough to catch all the dangerous criminals, how does it help any of us chasing after you?
I have to say I've had the conversation with my candidate, local members and friends about tweeting, and the consensus seems to be come 10pm, don't tweet. I suppose it's worse for me being at Kirkcaldy, tweeting "Gordon looking a little tired" may even earn me a tap on the shoulder from his security.
Best wishes, and good luck.
Callum
Good luck Jeff, even thought I live here in southern England I love your blog. im sure your fine. I first tweeted back to Kerry Macarthy that she had don wrong but I have to say after see the link on your post I can see the law is very unclear.
Didn't see the post, but don't let it get you down. If Lothian and Borders attain their normal high standards then in 15 months they'll pull someone else for it. : D
As written above they probably are only looking for sources.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for getting around to publishing the comments Jeff. I'd appreciate a retraction in the body of the blog post as well.
Who asked the police to investigate.
That is the source I would like to know.
Bristol east's candidate is a solicitor so had no reason except self gain to twitter what she knew to be illegal. That is, the specific figures.
You did not do that.
I am concerned IN CASE someone told you to leave the SNP though or it would be chased up through the police by someone with political views different to you.
I hope not.
Sorry to hear about your little spot of bother, Jeff, I'm sure it's no more than that. A police investigation seems a bit over the top compared to the PPC in England. Keep your chin up!
Regards,
JohnB.
Jeff,
All your readers here in Wales are sorry to hear about your predicament. I went to the verification of my postal votes last week and if electoral staff hadn't pointed out to me the pitfalls I would probably have blogged the same about postal voting trends.
All the best.
Arfon.
I never knew postal ballots were counted so far in advance. I actually saw this on a news article and realised it was this blog that I occasionally read. I like your stuff so keep it up.
All the best Jeff, I'm sure this will blow over soon. Perhaps some good will even come of this episode and of Kerry McCarthy's infamous tweet, namely more scrutiny of how postal votes are dealt with.
Tend to agree with the above comment on renaming the blog - a casual reader of the BBC article would probably think this was an official SNP blog. And besides, you're no one trick pony! Your blog very often has nothing to do with tactical voting for the SNP!
It's tricky though as you have built up a very good brand (witness all the comments)...maybe adding a disclaimer somewhere stating that this isn't an SNP-sanctioned blog is a good compromise?
Best wishes anyway, and keep up the good work!
Sorry to hear about this Jeff;
I'd urge you not to leave the part, if only 'cause I *am* going to get to conference at the same time as you at some point if you're still a member, and buy you that pint…
Of orange juice or something equally chemically-inoffensive, of course.
Seriously though, I don't think you have much of a case to answer here,although I of course respect the operational independence of the Police etc etc.
If there's anything I can do to help etc. just ask...
Jeff, this will all blow over soon I'm sure. There is a certain irony in unionists trying to land you in it as I think you're far too fair to them at times but of course elections can be a dirty business.
Sit it out and treat it as yet another learning curve :O) but please continue blogging.
I'm more worried that people have access to news regarding the result of postal votes ahead of the election date. I think many of us out here are surprised candidates have access to such news ahead of the end of polling day. I'd like to see that stopped now. Political Parties should have no access to postal results ahead of the main count. They should be kept in a secure place, unopened, until all votes are counted.
It's certainly true that the police might have better things to do with theit time than chase this up. From what I gather you didn't actually break the law.
As Mark MacGregor pointed out Kerry4MP is a candidate, past MP and a lawyer and you aren't. She most assuredly should have known better. You not necessarily so.
I'm sure that nothing will come of it, otherwise Plod would already have knocked or your door.
I think there is a whole lot of confusion here.
Postal votes are not counted - ie allocated to individual candidates - until after the polls close.
What is being done just now is postal votes are being opened and validated - nobody is counting anything except the total number of ballots that have been received. At 10pm on polling day, each returning officer will have one great big pile of validated postal votes, ready to be thrown into the count proper.
Any information about the number of votes cast for a particular candidate is nothing more than conjecture at this stage because it can't be based on any counting of the votes.
In some cases there could be over 10,000 postal votes cast. It would be ridiculous to leave them all unopened until the polls close - we wouldn't have any results until Sunday if we did that.
I agree with the many who have said that the whole postal vote process needs a thorough review. It is far too open to abuse and postal votes should only be allowed for those who have an appropriate medical certificate.
People who are away from home on polling day on business or holiday should vote by proxy - i.e. get someone they trust to go and vote on their behalf. The process for this exists today but has been made pretty redundant due to the universal availability of postal votes.
I think you should put this down to the learning process, Jeff. Although I accept that you're not an experienced political operator (unlike McCarthy), and this was done in innocence, there was sufficient forethought in uploading your blog-piece.
I do think your source should be treated much more harshly.
I am in agreement with many of the postersn here hoping you keep up the good work. Though this unlucky event has again highlighted the bias in the BBC in that no reporting of the Labour PPC that twittered on this last week but your name and the blog are on a news piece on teletext.
Okie, I don't know what was wrong with my comment, Jeff, as it said nowt which I didn't say to you on LibDem Voice.
Technically, I do think you sailed too close to the wind... but that you removed it shows awareness, and I am deeply sympathetic you felt the need to resign. This, if anything, shows that you have a sense of shame which many don't.
I don't have similar sympathy for McCarthy, and I do think your source was bordering on the culpable.
Nothing wrong with it Alec, just missed it and didn't go back for a double-check. Apols, now posted.
I didn't have as bad a day as some may have imagined by the way but thanks again for all the support and thoughts on the matter which have contributed to my own.
(Still no word from the authorities in case anyone's wondering)
I'll also apologise to Stephen Glenn for my coded suggestion in the original draft to this blog post as we had a good offline chat and he gave his word he knew nowt about it which is more than good enough for me as I know he's a thoroughly decent bloke who'd always back his actions with words.
Not going to waste time working out got the ball rolling on all of this, will just patiently wait for it to run its course.
I must admit I hadn't thought about the implications of postal ballots being counted early, but now that it comes up, it does seem a bit silly - surely it would make more sense to store them till all the other ballots are counted?
Jeff - Really sorry to hear about all this, and I know you must be having a stressful time of it. It was very honourable and decent of you to cancel your SNP membership, but I'm sure that wasn't strictly necessary. I do think that the media (and, I hope, the prosecuting authorities) show a degree of understanding towards you after what was clearly an honest mistake. There but for the grace, and all that.
I do sometimes feel that ordinary people aren't allowed any more to make ordinary mistakes and that we all rush to judgment far too quickly. Anyway, best of luck and keep up the blogging.
I agree Carolyn, infact I was going to try to build a questioning of the whole postal ballot counting into this blog post but I didn't want it to sound like 'I blame the system' which, let's face it, would make me sound a bit too much like some of the expenses villains.
Not a path I fancy going down.
(Although Legal Aid would be nice...)
Much appreciated Tom. I also hope there is a strong degree of understanding and I agree the press* has been fair, perhaps even generous in some instances.
You make a good point about 'ordinary people'. If we want random punters (which I happily class myself as) to get more involved in Politics then we surely have to find a way to not crush them if they take a small step out of line. Not that I'm feeling overly crushed to be honest, it's not been that bad a day all in all.
(*Speaking of the press, the journalists that copy and pasted parts of my blog resulting in their having done as much wrong as I have was particularly comforting in a safety in numbers kind of way....)
In response to the earlier comment that it would be silly to leave postal votes until the main count, I disagree. These are votes in a General Election and it is increasingly difficult to trust in the whole process when we hear reports of candidates like McCarthy suggesting she has some sort of knowledge as to how the postal votes are panning out. This would suggest strongly that there is a lot more than "validating ballot papers" going on.
We simply shouldn't have anyone connected with the parties anywhere near these votes ahead of a main count and that's all there is to it.
Jeff has been caught up in something accidentally but it is still worrying that information on postal voting trends is leaking out.
It suggests the entire system needs to be reviewed by the Electoral Commission. We simply must be sure this whole process is secure and that it is being done properly. As Observer points out the system is already discredited as it is. Enough is enough surely?
Jeff,
While I don't think you needed to resign from the SNP I know that you've done that for honourable reasons and there's a shortage of that kind of thing in politics as a whole.
I find it bizarre that L&B Police can investigate without contacting you (maybe they have by now!).
I do think you've been hounded over this (not for the first time so you must be doing something right). There are other cyber nasties ot there and they are not SNP supporters.
For the record you were a breath of fresh air during your short time in Leith SNP.
Also for the record I have exercised my postal vote. I am campaigning for George Kerevan who is SNP candidate for Edinburgh East. I hope he wins.
Jeff,
I disagree with my MP on almost everything, however Tom Harris MP says it like it is.
Well said Mr Harris!
There ought to be cross party agreement on the rights, nay, the duty, of people to 'talk politics' without morons using the law against them.
Whoever did this to you is no democrat, and on that score at least, Mr Harris is.
Still voting SNP right enough!
I'd also like to say, yet again, that Jeffs' opinion piece was couched in such a way that I, as an SNP member, couldn't take much comfort from it.
Lothians and Borders Police ought to appreciate the difference between comment and liability.
Just saying.
The opening of the postal votes before the date of the election is to validate the signature and DOB match that on the system part one and then to verify the mark on the ballot paper.
The reason these two things are done is to check that fraud is not being undertaken with the postal ballots and the parties are able to observe the process as a check on this as well.
The parties then also take a tally of the marks that they manage to see when the second part of that process is taking place. It is not necessarily a full count of all the votes cast but a sample.
The reason the parties do this is to ensure that they have an idea of the votes that are cast over the whole return. So that when the full result is given to them they have an idea of the region each party's vote will be in.
There were over 8,000 postal votes for example cast in Linlithgow and East Falkirk and a similar number for Livingston, to verify these postal ballots all on the night for the two constituencies in West Lothian would have taken considerably longer than the vote actually took. These were being done on every weekday from when they first started to be returned for hours on each occasion.
All well and good Stephen Glenn, but nevertheless at least one Labour person felt able to tweet the result!!!!!!!!!! Which means Postal Votes need looked at. It also means a bit more than "validating" was going on! Please do try and understand that some of us, at least, believe in accountability when it comes to the election process. And postal votes should be counted along with the rest on the day of the big count, end of!
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