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 | | Thursday, 11 April, 2002, 08:49 GMT 09:49 UK Dame complains to Europe over �26m bill  Dame Shirley says the decision breaches human rights Former council leader Dame Shirley Porter has complained to the European Court of Human Rights against the massive penalty imposed on her over a housing scandal. Last year the Law Lords ruled the Tesco heiress should pay more than �26m for her role in the "homes for votes" affair in the 1980s. It was claimed the former Westminster Council leader had sold council houses to Tory voters to try to boost the party's election prospects. However, she alleges that she was unfairly treated by an investigation into the affair and that the hearing relied on evidence that was "unfair and prejudicial".
Dame Shirley is using Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights - which states that everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial hearing - to contest the decision. In her letter to the Strasbourg court, Dame Shirley said: "The �26.46m surcharge is a breach of Article 6 and was unfair and disproportionate, especially as no personal gain was involved. "The courts which decided the merits of the case relied on evidence which was unfair and prejudicial. "Decisions of both the Divisional Court and the Law Lords were in breach of article 14 in that they were discriminatory and factually inconsistent." Her move comes after a decision by the Conservative-led London authority to speed up its efforts to recover the debt, incurred in what the Lords ruled was a case of "political corruption". Her solicitor Mr Mark Spragg said: "We are asking the Court to expedite this complaint as soon as possible. "The case has already dragged on for 15 years. "We are confident that the complaint will be upheld." | |   See also: Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top England stories now:  Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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