Porter v Magill

Porter v Magill
Court House of Lords
Decided 13 December 2001
Citation(s) [2001] UKHL 67
Court membership
Judge(s) sitting Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Steyn, Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Hobhouse of Wood-borough, Lord Scott of Foscote

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.

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.[1]

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.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Helen Fenwick, Gavin Phillipson, Text, cases & materials on public law & human rights, p 719


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