High Court judges: Lib Dem PPC’s “sordid”, “unpleasant” and “unsusbstantiated” attacks on political opponents

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Over on his blog, Anthony Painter has highlighted the story of Ayoub Khan, the Lib Dem councillor and PPC for Birmingham Ladywood, who is apparently creating “wholly untrue accusations” against his political adversaries.

Khan, a Lib Dem cabinet member on Birmingham City Council – the largest local authority in Europe – is facing a possible professional investigation by the Bar Standards Board that could result in his suspension as a barrister.

Khan has allegedly:

* Falsely accused a fellow Councillor of witness intimidation. (Elections Commissioner, Timothy Straker QC, described that as “sordid”.)
* Accused political opponents of setting fire to an ally’s Land Rover. (Mr Straker QC described that one as “unpleasant and unsubstantiated”.)
* When he appealed the decision in the High Court last week, according to the Birmingham Post today:

“Lord Justice Leverson and Mr Justice Wilkie said there was “no sensible basis” for Khan’s claim that Mr Straker’s findings were perverse or unsubstantiated by evidence. His assertion that Mr Straker’s judgement was flawed was “barely even arguable.”

In his blogpost, Anthony says that Mr Khan’s tactics have now been laid bare in the High Court, and he makes a bold challenge to the leader of the Lib Dems:

“Nick Clegg, what exactly are you waiting for? Councillor Ayoub Khan has reached the end of the political road: sack him from Birmingham’s Cabinet, de-select him as a Councillor, de-select him as your candidate in Birmingham Ladywood and kick him out of your party. This more than anything else you have faced is a test of your credibility.”