Dossier raises questions over millionaire Tory MP Goldsmith's spending during election

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 7:31 AM on 16th July 2010

Zac Goldsmith

Assessment: The Electoral Commission will investigate claims against Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith

Westminster watchdog the Electoral Commission has today received a dossier raising questions about campaign spending by multi-millionaire Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith in the May General Election.

An investigation by Channel 4 News and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) highlighted Mr Goldsmith's spending on items such as signs, jackets and leaflets in his successful bid to become MP for Richmond Park in south London.

The report claimed that sums on invoices for the items did not match the amounts which Mr Goldsmith submitted in his declaration to the returning officer as evidence that he had not breached the candidates' spending limit.

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman this evening confirmed that it had received information from the BIJ and would be carrying out an initial assessment of it over the next few days.

It is only after the assessment is completed - usually about five days - that a decision will be taken over whether there is a case requiring an inquiry.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'We are confident that the election expenses in question comply to the spirit and letter of election law.'

Mr Goldsmith said: 'We were scrupulous at every stage in ensuring that our election expenses complied absolutely with the letter and the spirit of the rules. If the Electoral Commission looks into it, they will find nothing out of order.'

'We followed precisely the same formula used by MPs and candidates across the country. We were probably even more careful than most, because it was a high-profile campaign in a hotly contested seat, and it was inevitable that we would be examined afterwards.

'Channel 4 have specifically focused on my returns because it guarantees them extra coverage, and not because my returns are any different to anyone else’s.

They have exploited the fact that the rules are complicated, and used that fact to create a wholly misleading dossier to hand in as a "complaint" to the Electoral Commission, and earn still more coverage.

'The channel turned down my offer to come and do a live interview and changed their minds only after I made that fact known to other broadcasters. This is no more than shoddy and sensationalist journalism.'

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