Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
Metropolitan Police Commissioner
New Scotland Yard
8-10 Broadway
London
SW1H 0BG
8 July 2013
Dear Sir Bernard,
I am sure that you will be aware of the current police investigation taking place in Scotland, into the alleged fraud committed by the Unite trade union in Falkirk.
It is alleged that Unite in Falkirk were signing up their own members to the Labour Party without their consent and knowledge.
I am concerned that this instance is just the tip of the iceberg, as Unite themselves admit they are targeting another 40 Labour Party parliamentary selections for similar treatment. Senior Labour Party sources have also confessed that the problems go wider than just Falkirk.
In particular there are two London constituencies of particular concern: Ilford North and Lewisham Deptford.
In Ilford North, it has been reported that Unite were offering their members free Labour Party membership in exchange for attending a meeting with General Secretary Len McCluskey. Given that this constituency appears on a Unite target list along with Falkirk, I believe that the circumstances of this membership recruitment merit investigation.
Additionally, a London Labour activist Mandy Richards has alleged that Unite are 'bankrolling' a number of 'orchestrated' campaigns, and she singles out Lewisham Deptford for special attention. Again, given that this constituency appears on Unite's secret list I am deeply concerned that Falkirk-style abuses may also have taken place.
If the activities in Falkirk have been occurring elsewhere in England, there may have been fraudulent behaviour - a breach of Subsection 1, Section 2, of the Fraud Act 2006 under the terms of 'false misrepresentation', defined in the act as someone who '(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and (b) intends, by making the representation, to gain for himself or another or causes loss to another/exposes another to a risk of loss'.
Furthermore, I believe that this may also constitute fraud by abuse of position, breaching Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006, which states, 'A person is in breach of this section if he: (a) occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of another person, (b) dishonestly abuses that position, and (c) intends, by means of the abuse of that position...to make a gain for himself or another'.
I would be very grateful for any assistance that you can offer in investigating this deeply troubling matter.
Please find attached a copy of the internal Unite union document which lists the 41 Labour Party selections they say they have targeted.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Neill MP
Vice-Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party
