Fresh OUCA forgery scandal
President Simon Clarke, who admitted the forgery (left) and President Elect Charlie Steel who raised the matter at OUCA council yesterday
It has emerged that Simon Clarke, President of the Oxford University Conservative Association, forged a signature on a financial document. This revelation comes only days after the police began to investigate allegations that there were forged signatures on the nomination form of the President-elect, Charlie Steel, a candidate in today’s local council elections. Following a tumultuous meeting of OUCA’s Council yesterday, both President and President-elect have been called upon to resign.
President Simon Clarke admitted to the meeting that he forged the signature of ex-President Alexander Samuels on a bank mandate, which he presented to Lloyds TSB on Friday 10th February. The form authorised the removal of Samuels as a signatory for the OUCA bank account, and also authorised Clarke’s addition to the signatories. Clarke was unable to produce the required personal identification, so the bank mandate was not processed.
When ex-President Chris Ware put to Clarke the accusation that it was his deliberate intention to present a forged signature to the bank, Clarke responded, “Yes, if you analyse the situation, then yes, you’ll find that that is absolutely true.” Voices within OUCA have pressured Clarke to consider his position. OUCA member Sophie Moate told The Oxford Student, “I find it rather hypocritical that the President has admitted to something that Charlie Steel has only been accused of.
Following the revelation of such double standards, the President should consider his position.” To this Clarke responded, “I do not believe it makes my position untenable. I can see that I made a mistake, and I’ve apologised. But I do not believe that the error of judgement is comparable with the alleged conduct of certain members of OUCA. This is a masterful attempt to turn the spotlight from the attention Charlie Steel has received.” Charles Cooke, Treasurer, defended Clarke.
He said, “Any such suggestion that Simon’s position is untenable and his presidency in jeopardy is lunacy.
President Elect Charlie Steel who raised the matter at OUCA council yesterday
However, although none of the allegations against Steel have been proved, his position has also been questioned. The meeting provoked Clarke, Cooke, Political officer Tim Stafford and member Jo Joyce to send an open letter calling for Steel’s resignation. It said, “We wish to publicly express our complete loss of confidence in the President-Elect, Charlie Steel.
It continued, “We as members have no confidence in Charlie Steel as an Officer of the Association, and we demand his immediate resignation.” In a meeting often disrupted by shouts from the floor, Chris Ware stated, “The president through his hypocrisy has allowed OUCA to descend into civil war. He has one rule for others and another for himself.” Clarke denied that OUCA had split into warring factions, “OUCA have never been more polarised, but not on an equitable basis.
I have never known the Association to be so unanimously in anguish. The coverage Charlie has received in the last week has drawn together the broadest possible coalition against him.” He continued, “Charlie Steel and his clique are ruthless and self-promoting, and very clever. it’s the politics of the Godfather. I’m expecting the horse’s head at any moment. He is poison, complete poison. He’s not going to stop me; I’m not going to be cowed.
The revelations concerning Clarke’s forgery of signatures compounds what has been a difficult week for OUCA. Steel’s nomination form for today’s elections has been under investigation by the police for alleged electoral malpractice since Wednesday of First Week. Steel is running as the official Conservative Party candidate in Holywell Ward, which includes New, Merton, Wadham and Hertford Colleges among others.
Allegations that signatures had been forged on his electoral nomination form were reported to Martin John, Deputy Returning Officer of Oxford City Council, who referred them on to Thames Valley Police. Rosa Abulafia, whose signature appeared on Steel’s nomination form, told yesterday’s OUCA Council that she had contacted the electoral commission but “did not make a formal complaint”. She said, “I don’t care who forged my signature. I care about democracy in this country.
The City Council has been approached by a number of individuals who appeared as assentors to say that they had not knowingly signed any document connected with Steel’s nomination as a council candidate. If the allegations prove correct, whoever is responsible for the forgery could be punished by a fine or up to two years in jail. In his weekly report to OUCA members, Steel wrote, “I am very much looking forward to the local elections on Thursday and will of course be out campaigning.
I wish all Conservatives running in the election the best of luck.” When confronted with the allegations on the Wednesday of last week, Steel told the press: “I am completely shocked and have not acted improperly in any way, and I hope to get to the bottom of the matter.” The election will take place as planned today, while the Thames Valley Police continue to investigate allegations of electoral malpractice.
4th May 2006