Now watchdog ‘must launch SNP expenses investigation’

A SENIOR Tory last night said the elections watchdog could be accused of bias against the Conservatives over expenses allegations unless it also probes the SNP, Labour and the Lib Dems.

One of the claims centres on a campaign helicopter used by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.

The Tories face enquiries by up to 19 police forces over claims that they broke the rules when declaring spending on election ‘battlebuses’.

The party lost a legal bid to stop one investigation after the Daily Mail and Channel 4 News revealed dozens of hotel rooms used by Tory officials and activists in South Thanet were not declared on the candidate’s spending returns, but nationally.

Tory MP Charles Walker wrote to Electoral Commission chairman Jenny Watson saying that if other parties were not checked then it could seem the watchdog ‘is not being impartial’ or was ‘behaving in a way that could lead to it being accused of political bias’.

Revelations suggest up to 17 Labour candidates may have failed to declare spending on ‘battlebus’ visits. Labour Students, its college wing, ran four vehicles in last year’s campaign and reports on the Guido Fawkes blog indicated they targeted marginals including four that Labour won.

Commission rules suggest part of such expenses should be filed locally, but the costs went on national spending returns, just as the Tories’ are said to have done. MPs implicated include Jeremy Corbyn loyalist Cat Smith in Lancaster and Fleet- wood, Margaret Greenwood at Wirral West, Rob Marris in Wolverhampton South West and Chris Matheson in Chester. A Labour spokesman said: ‘This was part of a nationally branded tour so the transport costs are rightly national spend. Labour’s spending is within the law and the rules.’ Mr Walker said other claims included that 13 Labour candidates visited by Harriet Harman’s ‘pink bus’ did not declare it locally, a Lib Dem bus taking activists to seats was not declared and that Miss Sturgeon used ‘a helicopter to campaign for candidates in 12 target constituencies, at a cost of £35,000’.

He wrote: ‘A number of political parties have interpreted the rules on election spending in a similar fashion to the Conservative Party.

‘I would be grateful if the Electoral Commission could look into the issues I have raised, regardless of the party involved. If the Electoral Commission does not look at these issues, it could give the impression that the commission is not being impartial or, indeed, is behaving in (a) way that could lead to it being accused of political bias.’

A commission spokesman said: ‘The Commission’s role is to regulate national party spending. Allegations surrounding candidate spending returns are a matter for the police. The Commission has been calling since 2013 for the power to regulate candidate spending.’

The SNP said: ‘Party leader tours are not the same as bussing activists into marginal seats. We have correctly registered our party leader transport.’ The Lib Dems denied any wrongdoing.