Voting for dummies

Renee Slater was taken to court over the name Helena Torry being put forward to stand in the May [city council] election.

She was charged under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and went on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court this week.

A sheriff ruled there was no case to answer after two days of evidence.

Deputy returning officer Crawford Langley had told the court he had taken nomination papers from the accused an hour before the close of nominations.

Ms Slater was charged with adding a candidate she knew was, in fact, a mannequin.

Speaking after the trial, Mr Langley said he believed the prosecution failed on a technicality.

BBC

Mr Langley was subsequently prosecuted for misconduct in public office, wasting the court's time and a gross sense of humour failure (not really, I just wished that lot). The provision of joke electoral candidates is, of course, a useful social service, allowing frustrated people to let off steam without actually doing something really anti-social, like voting for UKIP.

Things have gone badly downhill since the glory days of H'Angus the Monkey.