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Archive - Fiona Jones

Archive - Fiona Jones

Between the General Election in 1997, when Labour candidate Mrs Fiona Jones defeated the Conservative incumbent, Mr Richard Alexander, and April 1999, an unprecedented series of events saw Mrs Jones convicted of electoral fraud, stripped of her seat, cleared on appeal, and back in the House of Commons.

Question marks over election expenses claimed by Mrs Jones were first raised in June 1997 in an exclusive story by the late Billy Phillips. By the December he was able to report that fraud squad officers were looking into Labour's declared figures.

The Advertiser's coverage of the events, as they happened, appears below.

This is probably the most complete and authoritative record available. Alternatively, you may download the whole archive in one file to view off-line (fionajones.zip, 1.05Mb) although the RealAudio samples will not be available.

Former MP's funeral service 16-02-2007
More than 70 people attended the funeral service in Lincoln Crematorium on Friday morning for Newark's former MP Mrs Fiona Jones.

Paying tribute to former MP 09-02-2007
The funeral service for former Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones is due to take place at Lincoln Crematorium today.

Reasons given for MP ruling 06/05/1999
The judges who decided that Fiona Jones was entitled to resume her seat as Newark's MP have given their reasons for their ruling. Mrs Jones reclaimed her seat in the House of Commons within hours of the decision and joined in a debate on the green belt and housing. A motion welcoming her back and praising the way she had held her seat was signed by 34 MPs.

Jones back in house 29/04/1999
Fiona Jones returned to Parliament as Newark's MP yesterday ternoon.After a High Court ruling in London, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Miss Betty Boothroyd, cleared the way for her return. Miss Boothroyd told the House: "The Newark seat is not vacant."

Jones trial judge erred 23/04/1999
Neither of the two main grounds in the prosecution of Fiona Jones and her election agent Des Whicher were capable of supporting a conviction for election fraud, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Bingham, said yesterday.

Fiona Jones kept waiting 23/04/1999
The future of Newark's former MP Fiona Jones is to be decided by the High Court. Speaker Betty Boothroyd told the House of Commons on Monday that the Attorney General, Mr John Morris, would seek an authoritative declaration from the High Court on the 1983 Representation of the People Act under which Mrs Jones had been charged.

Fiona Jones wins appeal 16/04/1999
Fiona Jones is expected to retake her House of Commons seat as MP for Newark after having her conviction for election fraud quashed during a day of high drama at the Court of Appeal yesterday.

Labour probe call 16/04/1999
After the Court of Appeal's decision to uphold Fiona Jones' appeal against conviction for election fraud, the Conservative Party issued an immediate response.

Labour hurt by Jones' trial 02/04/1999
Government Minister Glenda Jackson believes Fiona Jones' conviction has seriously tarnished the reputation of the Labour Party in Newark. Glenda Jackson believes Fiona Jones' conviction has seriously tarnished the reputation of the Labour Party in Newark.

Court may rule on MP status 02/04/1999
The Court of Appeal could rule that Fiona Jones is reinstated as MP for Newark if she wins her appeal.

The Fiona Files 26/03/1999
Six-page spread on the downfall of Fiona Jones.

MP guilty 19/03/1999
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her election agent Mr Des Whicher have been convicted by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of making a false declaration of election expenses.

Part of faction 19/03/1999
The secretary of the Newark branch of the Labour party, Mrs Rose Beadling, became part of the faction making things difficult for Mrs Fiona Jones, it was claimed on Friday.

Case rests on office use 19/03/1999
The jury was told yesterday that they may feel the whole case turned on the sum of £500 declared for the use of two offices.

Honest mistakes were made 19/03/1999
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her agent, Mr Des Whicher, did their best to complete an honest election expense return, the jury was told on Tuesday.

Worries left to fester 19/03/1999
Prosecutor Mr Paul Mann told the jury on Tuesday that if they could not exclude the possibility that the return had been just a mistake they must acquit the defendants.

Judge asks for slower pace 19/03/1999
Mr Des Whicher had to be stopped in mid-sentence on Friday to allow the judge, Mr Justice Jowitt, to take a note of what he was saying.

Opposed to MP 19/03/1999
The group in control of the Newark branch of the Labour party were opposed to Mrs Fiona Jones, her agent told the court of Friday.

Witnesses speak for defendants 19/03/1999
Character witnesses were called on Tuesday morning and spoke of the integrity and honesty of Mrs Fiona Jones and Mr Des Whicher.

Petrol considered undeclarable 19/03/1999
Prosecutor Mr Paul Mann told the jury on Tuesday that if they could not exclude the possibility that the return had been just a mistake they must acquit the defendants.

Agent did not see statements 19/03/1999
Election agent Mr Des Whicher denied on Friday ever saying he was going to run a spend, spend, spend campaign.

MP trial jury is out 19/03/1999
The jury in the trial of Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her election agent Mr Des Whicher retired yesterday lunchtime to consider their verdict. They were continuing their deliberations today. The verdict will be published on the Advertiser website as soon as it is known.

Mistakes on return, not lies 13/03/1999
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones spent two and a half days giving evidence.

Ex-MP had similar ideas 13/03/1999
The court was told on Wednesday the returns submitted by Tory candidate Mr Richard Alexander showed the earliest invoice dated at March 31, 1997.

Shades of opinion 13/03/1999
Mrs Fiona Jones insisted on Wednesday that the Toyota car hired for her by Newark Constituency Labour party was not red.

Agent made no personal claims 13/03/1999
No personal expenses were put on the electoral return by Mr Des Whicher even though he paid for his petrol from the election account, the court was told on Wednesday.

Office use valued at £350 13/03/1999
A sum of £230 covered the cost of computer and telephone facilities in the Paxton's Court office in the run up to the election and on polling day, the court was told on Wednesday.

Fiona Jones' arrival 'was like a breath of fresh air' 13/03/1999
The arrival of Fiona Jones in Newark was like a breath of fresh air, Mr Vic Hall told the court on Wednesday afternoon.

Businessman gave two donations 13/03/1999
Two donations were made to Mrs Fiona Jones' election expenses by businessman Mr Colin MacLeod after she had a meeting with him, the court was told on Monday.

MP unmoved by accuser 13/03/1999
Allegations made in the Advertiser about Labour's spending in the General Election by Liberal Democrat candidate Mr Peter Harris did not worry Mrs Jones, she told the court.

Motherhood allowed time for politics 13/03/1999
The birth of Fiona Jones' first son gave her the chance to spend more time on politics, she told the crown court on Monday.

Local party failed to gather voter information 13/03/1999
Three telephonists were employed to work on a voter identification scheme in Newark because the town's Labour branch had not done their share of the work, it was alleged on Monday.

MMP's 'silly mistakes' over election returns 13/03/1999
Silly mistakes were made by Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones in her election return, the Crown Court was told on Monday.

MP tells jury of internal strife 13/03/1999
Newark Constituency Labour party was incapable of winning the seat in a General Election before she was appointed candidate, Mrs Fiona Jones told Nottingham Crown Court this week.

Agent declined to answer 06/03/1999
In his second police interview Mr Des Whicher was asked what he considered to be an election expense. He replied: "I don't think it is a reasonable question."

Cars hired for election 06/03/1999
A member of Newark Constituency Labour party Mr Chris Fitzgerald told the court it had been his job to look after the office in Paxton's Court.

Anonymous calls launched expenses probe 06/03/1999
The man who was responsible for the police investigation being launched into Mrs Jones' election expenses began giving his evidence late on Tuesday afternoon.

Election HQ sign at office 06/03/1999
Former Advertiser field sales representative Mrs Sheelagh Buckley was called to the stand on Wednesday morning.

Accounts request disputed 06/03/1999
On Tuesday morning Mrs Gill Dawn was cross-examined by Mr Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Mr Whicher. She was asked about her statement that a unanimous resolution had been passed in October, 1997 calling for the election accounts to be produced.

Secretary's shock at backer's identity 06/03/1999
Membership secretary of the Newark branch of the Labour Party, Mrs Doreen Westmoreland, told the court on Tuesday afternoon she had heard about the donations to help to fight their General Election campaign before polling day.

MP threatened council leader, court told 06/03/1999
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones threatened to finish the career of the former leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mrs Gill Dawn, if she did not support her, Nottingham Crown Court was told on Monday.

Not a poll car' - MP 06/03/1999
A metallic red car hired for Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones was not used in campaigning during the 1997 General Election, she told police.

Spend, spend, spend 26/02/1999
Newark constituency Labour Party conducted a spend, spend, spend campaign during the last General Election, Nottingham Crown Court was told on Tuesday.

Committed for trial 07/08/1998
MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her General Election agent Mr Des Whicher have been committed to crown court to stand trial over allegations of discrepancies in election expenses.

MP and agent face charges 24/04/1998
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her election agent Mr Des Whicher are to appear before magistrates next month.

Election file sent 03/04/1998
Fraud squad officers investigating the General Election expenses of Newark Labour MP Mrs Fiona Jones on Monday sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Police interview 27/02/1998
MP Mrs Fiona Jones and her Parliamentary agent Mr Des Whicher are to be interviewed by the Fraud Squad in an inquiry into Labour's constituency General Election expenses.

Fraud squad move in 05/12/1997
Fraud Squad officers from Nottinghamshire Police are looking into Labour's declared expenses for its General Election campaign in Newark.

MP raps local branch 22/08/1997
Newark MP Mrs Fiona Jones has criticised members of the town's Labour party for not pulling their weight during the General Election campaign.

Sour grapes' say Labour 20/06/1997
An investigation was launced this week by a rival candidate into the financial running of Labour's General Election campaign in Newark.

First-time Fiona wins 02/05/1997
Newark has a Labour MP for the first time in 18 years.

Switch is poised 18/04/1997
In an unprecedented facing-both-ways stance Newark Division Tories' former president Mr Colin MacLeod is backing Labour in the General Election.

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