UK CANDIDATE REFUSED ACCESS TO OFFICIAL VOTE COUNT
5 June 2001
A peace activist running as an Independent candidate in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency has been refused access to the vote count on 7 June by Prison Service authorities, even though they have it in their power to allow her to go. After Helen John, a retired midwife, announced her candidacy, she was given an unusually long gaol sentence for damage to the fence at a Star Wars/Echelon base in North Yorkshire, Menwith Hill, so that she is now unexpectedly detained on election day. It is her democratic right under the Representation of the People Act to attend and examine any votes that may be in dispute, as she is her own election agent.
The Rt. Hon. Tony Benn, a constitutional expert, one of the longest serving members of the House of Commons and an elder statesman of the Labour movement in the UK, has lodged formal complaints on constitutional grounds with Tony Blair and with Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, on Ms John's behalf. Mr Benn said he supported the right of any Independent candidate to be treated fairly in democratic elections. Mr Straw's private secretary, Stephen Harrison, told Mr Benn that Mr Straw upheld the decision of the governor of Askham Grange not to "release her on temporary license" from the open prison where Helen and another peace activist, Anne Lee, are being held. However, Frances Taylor, Ms John's solicitor, said a temporary license was not being asked for; rather, an escort to the count had been requested. Ms Taylor said she would continue to make representations to both the prison Service and the Home Office until the last possible minute before the count commences.
On Friday, the governor of Askham Grange had told Ms Taylor that every effort would be made to get Ms John escorted to the vote count. However, after consulting with higher authorities the governor now says transporting John to the count would be disruptive to the "running of the establishment." Ms John said she has "not waived her right to attend the count," nor had she transferred it to anyone else. She is now unable to appoint an election agent to act in her stead as the deadline has past. She said that "if one candidate has an impediment, this must affect the others negatively as well."
Ms Taylor, John's solicitor, said the refusal of the prison authorities to arrange for an escort to the count was a breach of human rights and of the democratic process. In practice, Ms John is at a disadvantage, even though she is unlikely to win. Only the candidate or her agent can make representations to the Returning Officer in cases of spoiled or unclear votes. All the other candidates retain the ability to do this, but not Ms John.
Ms John canvassed in several Sedgefield towns and villages before her imprisonment, and her campaign team has since visited ten of the most populous areas. Everywhere they have been people have said they will vote for Ms John because they too are opposed to an new arms race in space; they believe women should play a greater role in defence decision-making and they think enough money is wasted on the defence budget that should be going into public services. There are large areas in Mr Blair's constituency which appear to be economically depressed, and many constituents expressed dissatisfaction with Mr Blair's posture of subservience to the United States.
Ms John's election address, which has been sent to 38,000 constituents,
can be read at:
http://www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/mhs/wpc/helenjohn.htm
Ms Frances Taylor, Ms John's solicitor, can be reached for comment on Tel. 0113-237-4047 or 01943-466256.
URGENT ACTION
Messages of protest must be sent before 5 pm on Thursday, 7 June. Please
fax letters of protest about Jack Straw's decision to his private secretary's
office on: Fax 0207-217-6961. If faxing from overseas please add 44 at
the beginning and leave off the first 0.
You may also telephone the office of the Director General of the Prison Service to lodge a complaint on. tel. no. 0207-217-6720. Please also ring and leave a message of protest for the governor of Askham Grange Prison, Mr. Simmons, on 01904-704236.
Further information about Helen John and Anne Lee's imprisonment and
Ms John's candidacy can be obtained from:
Cat Euler
Tel. 01943-468593 or
cat@freewomen.freeserve.co.uk