Decided 13 December 2001 End date December 13, 2001 | Citation(s) [2001] UKHL 67 Ruling court House of Lords | |
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Judge(s) sitting Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Steyn, Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Hobhouse of Wood-borough, Lord Scott of Foscote People also search for R v Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate, ex p Pinochet | ||
Porter v Magill [2001] UKHL 67 is a UK administrative law case decided by the House of Lords which arose out of the Homes for votes scandal involving Dame Shirley Porter.
Contents
Facts
The Conservative majority of Westminster council adopted a policy to sell council houses in parts of the City where it was believed that home owners were more likely to vote Conservative. It became known as "the homes for votes scandal", involving Shirley Porter. As the leader of Westminister City Council, she helped formulate a policy which appeared to be designed to sell off council housing for the purpose of electoral advantage in marginal wards.
Judgment
The House of Lords accepted that councillors are elected. However, their powers can only be used for the purposes for which they are conferred, and not for the electoral advantage of a political party.