The Report - 09/12/2010

In the first ruling of its kind for 99 years, the former Immigration Minister and Labour MP, Phil Woolas was last month stripped of his Oldham East and Saddleworth seat. He was found guilty by a special election court of having knowingly lied about his Liberal Democrat opponent, Elwyn Watkins. Mr Woolas has also been accused of exploiting racial tensions in an area which saw riots in the run up to the General Election in 2001. The Report investigates what really went on during the campaign and looks at the role of the politics of race in this most tightly fought of contests. And reporter Simon Cox asks how unique the circumstances of the Oldham East election were. Phil Woolas was found guilty of making claims about his opponent's personal character or conduct that he knew to be untrue. But candidates can use many other tricks to deceive voters that are within the rules. The Report asks whether the law that was used to strip the former Oldham East MP of his seat has kept up with the reality of modern electioneering.