Allegations a Brighton councillor lied on election forms have now been referred to the police.
Chandni Mistry and Bharti Gajjar were expelled from the Labour Party after an investigation into where they live, the party announced today.
Brighton and Hove News understands that Bharti Gajjar, does have a genuine address in Brighton – but lied about living in different parts of the country when applying to be a parliamentary candidate in several constituencies.
However it is believed Chandni Mistry, who is Cllr Gajjar’s niece, has never actually lived here – although she has today told The Argus she lives at an unspecified address “in the heart of Brighton”.
Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle wrote directly to Sussex Police chief constable Jo Shiner last week passing on information he thinks should be investigated.
Any councillor who is convicted of lying on official election forms would have to stand down and could face up to a year in prison.
Mr Russell-Moyle said: “We found out a few months ago that something strange was going on.
“At that moment we alerted the regional and national party who had imposed these candidates without any local control.
“When party process discovered wrongdoing I passed all my information on these councillors to the council and the police and I think there are questions for both to investigate.
“These councillors have let us all down.
“I think Kemptown is the most exciting ward to be a councillor for. If I was not an MP, I would give my right arm to be a councillor in Kemptown ward.
“It has diverse views, real opportunities, the seafront – it’s fantastic.
“But we have had one councillor who has defrauded us in a deeply upsetting way.”
Brighton and Hove News has been shown documents and a website which suggest Bharti Gajjar applied to be a prospective parliamentary candidate in both South Derbyshire and Morecambe and Lunesdale. She was not selected for either seat.
The website, which features pictures of her campaigning in Brighton, says: “I feel compelled to be a Labour candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale because this city [sic] holds my heart.
“From my formative years in its vibrant neighborhoods to witnessing its challenges and triumphs, Morecambe and Lunesdale has shaped my values and aspirations.”
The bottom of the website says: “Bharti Gajjar, FRSA from South Derbyshire.”
Morecambe is a town, Lunesdale is a former district and South Derbyshire is a district – none are cities.
FRSA stands for Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts – the same organisation Cllr Mistry claimed to be a fellow of in her interview with the Argus today. Membership is available to anyone over 18 who pays an annual fee.
The website also claims Cllr Gajjar has a degree in ethics from Yale, and was a special envoy to the G20.
Brighton and Hove News understands the council has also been asked to investigate both councillors’ register of interests as a standards issue.
Cllr Mistry, who has been a medical student at Lancaster University, listed GMB, Unison, the Royal College of Surgeons, a hospital trustee member and the British Medical Council (the last of which does not exist).
Cllr Gajjar listed the Disabled Union, British Medical Association, GMB Union, Co-Operative, Royal Marsden Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Some of us have reported them to https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/what-is-action-fraud as well.
They need to return the expenses and allowances they took pretending to be legit councillors.
‘Cllr Gajjar has a degree in ethics from Yale’. Now there’s irony. Should be easy to check though.
Oh dear oh dear, it’s pantomime time: oh no you don’t live here / oh yes, you do = watch out, Lloyd’s behind you!!
Lloyd Russell_Moyle campaigned tirelessly for these charlatans. Ironic he had to report them to the police just six months later.
Not ironic, principled! I applaud Mr RM for not trying to cover this up but actually trying to put things right for us Kemptown residents.
He knew the candidates were not great but Labour victory was the priority over what might have been best for Kemp town. There is no place for party politics in local government, they will all let us down for a scrap of political advantage.
Mr Towler – you were a party candidate. A failed one so I suspect this is sour grapes. Just calling your party “independents” doesn’t (and didn’t) fool anyone.
No need for sour grapes, Labour gave us lemons.
Well said Jake there is no doubt about the embarrassment a debacle like this causes everyone concerned with the local Labour Party . Lloyd acted in good faith as did all local members who campaigned for these two ladies who to all intents and purposes seemed ideal and aligned perfectly with our aims for inclusivity . The fact that as a local party we have been defrauded is extremely sad and disappointing yet no one can accuse Lloyd of having acted other than with complete propriety during this sad episode in the Kemptown local branch of the Labour Party . It’s my sincere hope that we can put this behind us and having learnt our lesson over the importance of due diligence in the candidate selection process move on selecting a new councilor candidate so that Kemptown has the representation it needs and deserves on the council . Avanti Popolo !
With respect it is a little premature to appoint a new candidate as having foisted these charlatans on us, Labour has no power to remove them from the council. They had the full force of the Labour machine to get them elected, it will take the police force to remove them. Meanwhile Popolo are going nowhere.
We have an amazing MP in Lloyd and he can be trusted to always do the right thing – seems to have done just that right here right now…..
That tells you all you need to know about Lloyd Russell Moyle…….never again please. Surely there’s someone out there better than him.
You should stand next year Steve – see how far you get 😉
He even signed their nomination papers…
This is what happens when the Blarite Labour central office imposes candidates
“At that moment we alerted the regional and national party who had imposed these candidates without any local control.”
In which case there also needs to be a Labour Party investigation into who proposed, supported and validated their membership and nomination for these seats.
Let us not forget it was the local control (momentum) that cost labour dearly last time round leading to the greens assuming the mantle. Hmm.
I do love a bit of fraud. Hopefully these 2 chancers get some jail time as some of us actually take democracy seriously. Although it’s easy to see why people get into politics with anything but themselves in mind, what with the unimaginable fraud around COVID contracts
100% agree
This is just the start of things , the
corruption & wrongdoings in brighton
have been going in for years,
Complete overhaul needed now ,
totally agree! they should empty the town hall and start again with responsible employees and a five day week
She was apparently hoping to stand as a Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion!
If you keep voting Labour and Green what do you expect. You are all a bunch of Sheep.
Who do you vote for? Tories! Nyahahahahahahaha …
Yes, all this reminds us that the MP for Kemptown realised that he boils over so easily that he went to the Deed Poll Office to change his name from Llloyd Russell-Hobbs lest residents make puns upon it.
Really ? – or did I just take the bait ? 🙂