Banana Republic - United Kingdom

The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey over the disgraceful actions of the six Labour councillors from Birmingham is something the city could well do without. The Judge went as far as to say that the recent electoral fraud would disgrace even a banana republic.

It transpires that the vote rigging was part of an organised campaign to steal, forge and/or alter thousands of postal votes to ensure that Labour did not suffer from another backlash against it over the Iraq war. The six candidates involved won the Bordesley Green and Aston elections through rigging the vote. The councillors involved are Mohammed Islam, Muhammad Agzal, Mohammed Kazi, Ayaz Khan, Shafaq Ahmed and Shah Jahan.

The councillors have been sacked from the Labour Party and ordered to pay the costs of the trial. A criminal trial may take place after the General Election. Judge Mawrey has decided not to burden the people of Birmingham with the court costs and has ordered that the shamed councillors foot the estimated