- Miranda Grell
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Miranda Grell Born June 1978 (age 33) Residence London Nationality British Ethnicity Black Alma mater University of Manchester Known for Making false statements about political opponent in breach of electoral law Political party Labour Party Miranda Agnes Jayne Grell (born June 1978) is a former Labour Party politician and councillor for the London Borough of Waltham Forest. She was the first person to be found guilty of making false statements under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and banned for holding public office for three years as a result.
Contents
Early life
Grell was born in 1978 to parents from Dominica who had moved to Britain in 1973.[1] She studied European Studies with Modern Languages at the University of Manchester, gaining a First Class Honours, and took a Master's degree in Industrial Relations from the London School of Economics.
Politics
Grell joined the Labour Party in 1999 having been persuaded to do so by her friend and fellow student Chuka Umunna.[2]
At the time she stood in the local election, she worked as a Senior Policy Advisor to the conciliation service Acas and as a trainee speech writer for Anna Diamantopoulou.[1] Following her election to Waltham Forest council, she then went to work as a researcher for the former Deputy Mayor of London, Nicky Gavron.[3] She served on the management committee of the think tank Compass from June 2005 until her resignation from the committee in December 2007.
2006 local election controversy
Grell won a seat in the May 2006 local elections on an unexpectedly large swing from the Liberal Democrats in a split result for the Leyton ward of Waltham Forest. The result was close with Grell winning by 28 votes.[4][5] However, in September 2007, she went on trial on charges under the Representation of the People Act 1983 of making a false statement of fact about a candidate's personal character or conduct for electoral advantage, specifically that she made allegations of paedophilia against her gay Liberal Democrat opponent, Barry Smith.[6] In addition to losing his seat Smith was verbally abused in the street, spat at and was forced to relocate to the North of England as a result of the false allegations, fearing for his life.[1][7][8]
Witnesses against Grell included a Labour voter and also her Labour running mate, Nicholas Russell.[9] Grell admitted to outing her opponent and falsely claiming he had a 19 year old Thai boyfriend (his partner is actually 39 and Malaysian), though she denied making the false allegations of paedophilia to four residents.[8][10] On 21 September 2007, she was found guilty on two counts fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 towards the prosecution costs.[11]
Appeal
On 24 October 2007, Grell's supporters launched a campaign to finance her appeal[12] but it was then reported that the Labour Party would pay her legal costs.[3] On 27 November, The Independent newspaper quoted a party spokesman: "Following legal advice in the last few days, the Labour Party today withdrew its support for Miranda Grell's appeal."[13] Criticism was levelled at the party for supporting Grell's appeal, in particular by gay rights campaigner and former Labour candidate Peter Tatchell.[13][14][15]
Grell's appeal hearing began on 28 November 2007 at Snaresbrook Crown Court before Judge Peter Birts QC and two lay magistrates. On 30 November, Grell's conviction for making false statements about another candidate to gain electoral advantage was upheld.[16][17] She vacated her seat and was banned from holding public office for three years.[18][19] The by-election for Leyton ward on 14 February 2008 was won by Liberal Democrat Winnie Smith.[20]
Following the appeal verdict, Grell resigned from the Labour Party, her job working for the Deputy Mayor of London and from the Compass management committee, but still pleaded her innocence.[21]
Personal life
Grell is single and lives in London.[1]
See also
- Phil Woolas (Labour MP disqualified under same law)
References
- ^ a b c d "Labour activist accused of branding political rival 'a paedophile' to win council seat". Daily Mail (London). 11 September 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-481217/Labour-activist-accused-branding-political-rival-paedophile-win-council-seat.html.
- ^ OBV Profile: Miranda Grell | OBV
- ^ a b "Labour backs shamed councillor". Guardian-series.co.uk. 2007-11-05. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/walthamforestnews/walthamforestnews/display.var.1810672.0.waltham_forestlabour_backs_shamed_councillor.php. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ Ahmed, Murad (22 September 2007). "Labour rising star found guilty of smearing her election rival". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2507836.ece.
- ^ Local Election Results May 2006 - Leyton and Wanstead
- ^ Grell to fight on after losing sex slur case
- ^ "Councillor slurred election rival". BBC News. 21 September 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7006231.stm.
- ^ a b The case for a fair fight | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
- ^ Grew, Tony (2007-09-13). "Witnesses claim Labour activist called Lib Dem a paedophile". Pinknews.co.uk. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5446.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ WALTHAM FOREST: Sex slur allegations were made in revenge, claims councillor (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
- ^ Labour rising star found guilty of smearing her election rival
- ^ WALTHAM FOREST: Campaign launched to clear sex slur councillor's name (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
- ^ a b Duff, Oliver (2007-11-27). "Fees trapeze". London: News.independent.co.uk. http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article3198882.ece. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ Logged in as click here to log out (2007-09-28). "The case for a fair fight". London: Commentisfree.guardian.co.uk. http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell/2007/12/the_case_for_a_fair_fight.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ "Councillor appeals against gay slur conviction". Pinknews.co.uk. 2007-11-27. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6168.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ ""Councillor loses appeal"". Guardian-series.co.uk. 2007-11-30. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1873666.mostviewed.breaking_news_councillor_loses_appeal_after_conviction_for_smearing_rival.php. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ "Slur councillor loses her appeal (BBC)". BBC News. 2007-11-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7122048.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ "Councillor slurred election rival". BBC News. 2007-09-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7006231.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ "Sex smear councillor's "political career over"". Guardian-series.co.uk. 2007-09-21. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/walthamforestnews/walthamforestnews/display.var.1707494.0.update_sex_smear_councillors_political_career_over.php. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
- ^ LEYTON BY-ELECTION LIVE: Lib Dems regain seat - more reaction (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
- ^ WALTHAM FOREST: Miranda Grell resigns from party and job (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
External links
Categories:- 1978 births
- Living people
- Labour Party (UK) councillors
- Councillors in Waltham Forest
- Alumni of the University of Manchester
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- British politicians convicted of crimes
- Black British politicians
- English people of Dominica descent
- People from Leyton
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