The Conservative Party has acted incredibly and dangerously incompetently in its handling of Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover who has been suspended by the party.
Why is it dangerous?
Two Reasons.
Firstly it sets a dangerous precedent that it is okay to publicly accuse someone of wrong doing without having to say what that wrong doing is or, indeed, letting the person who you are accusing even know what the crime they are accused of is.
If Mr Elphicke is guilty of a criminal act then he, like anyone else, should pay however the prevailing precedent in the United Kingdom has always been innocent until proven guilty and the right to have your day in court. To, effectively, publicly denounce someone without giving the information to the person so that they may reply to the accusations is wholly wrong and leaves the door open for others to make public unspecified allegations without recourse.
It is stated that the allegations have been referred to the police, then surely it would be better to wait until the police have decided that there is a case to investigate or, at the very least, inform Mr Elphicke of what has been reported to the police before informing the media of his suspension.
It is also highlights the double standards at work here, the MP for one of Mr Elphicke's neighbouring constituencies, South Thanet, has been investigate by police, charged and faces trial next year (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-40936151) yet still retains the Conservative Party Whip.
The second area of dangerous incompetence is setting the precedent that it okay to suspend someone without giving them sufficient reason for that suspension.
How many unscrupulous employers would love to have that power! Now handed to them on a plate because the law makers of the land have decided that is the way to handle things?
While the reports are that Mr Elphicke has been suspended, the reality is that it is his membership of the party has been suspended. He is still able to act as an MP - suspension from the House of Commons is a completely different matter and does not, it seems, cover matters of police investigation.
The Conservative Party have acted in a dangerous and incompetent way in the matter, they would be far better working on ways that protects the rights of all individuals.
Why is it dangerous?
Two Reasons.
Firstly it sets a dangerous precedent that it is okay to publicly accuse someone of wrong doing without having to say what that wrong doing is or, indeed, letting the person who you are accusing even know what the crime they are accused of is.
If Mr Elphicke is guilty of a criminal act then he, like anyone else, should pay however the prevailing precedent in the United Kingdom has always been innocent until proven guilty and the right to have your day in court. To, effectively, publicly denounce someone without giving the information to the person so that they may reply to the accusations is wholly wrong and leaves the door open for others to make public unspecified allegations without recourse.
It is stated that the allegations have been referred to the police, then surely it would be better to wait until the police have decided that there is a case to investigate or, at the very least, inform Mr Elphicke of what has been reported to the police before informing the media of his suspension.
It is also highlights the double standards at work here, the MP for one of Mr Elphicke's neighbouring constituencies, South Thanet, has been investigate by police, charged and faces trial next year (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-40936151) yet still retains the Conservative Party Whip.
The second area of dangerous incompetence is setting the precedent that it okay to suspend someone without giving them sufficient reason for that suspension.
How many unscrupulous employers would love to have that power! Now handed to them on a plate because the law makers of the land have decided that is the way to handle things?
While the reports are that Mr Elphicke has been suspended, the reality is that it is his membership of the party has been suspended. He is still able to act as an MP - suspension from the House of Commons is a completely different matter and does not, it seems, cover matters of police investigation.
The Conservative Party have acted in a dangerous and incompetent way in the matter, they would be far better working on ways that protects the rights of all individuals.
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