Legal bid to unseat MP fails

The legal challenge to the election of Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has failed, it has been announced this morning.

Lady Paton and Lord Matthews refused the petition raised by four Orkney constituents — Tim Morrison, Cary Welling, Fiona Grahame and Euphemia Matheson —  who aimed to overturn May’s General Election result after it was revealed that Mr Carmichael was responsible for a leaked memo to the press.

It claimed that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told a French Diplomat that she wanted David Cameron to remain in power.

However, the memo was subsequently found to be inaccurate.

In the run up to the election Mr Carmichael denied any knowledge of the leak, however admitted he was responsible after the result had been announced.

Proceedings began at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in September, when two days of legal submissions were made before Lady Paton and Lord Matthews.

Last month, the two judges heard a further three days of evidence from six witnesses, including Mr Carmichael.

Prosecutors claimed the Northern Isles MP’s actions related to his personal character and were therefore a breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

However, Mr Carmichael’s defence claimed his actions were political and did not affect the election result.

For a summary of the ruling visit the Judiciary of Scotland website.