Mates' conscience is clear over Nadir (From Daily Echo)
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Michael Mates stands by backing for Asil Nadir
in News
By Tom Moseley, Parliamentary Correspondent
Michael Mates
A MAN bidding to be elected as Hampshire's police commissioner insists he has “nothing to be ashamed of” over links to one of Britain’s most notorious fraudsters.
Michael Mates told the Daily Echo he stood by his backing for Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir, who was jailed last month after being convicted on £29m fraud charges.
Mr Mates had resigned from the Government in 1993 after presenting Nadir with a watch inscribed “Don’t let the buggers get you down”.
He is now the Conservative Party candidate for November's Police and Crime Commissioner election.
Labour MP John Denham said the Mr Mates’s support for Nadir raised “big question marks” over his judgment, while even some Hampshire Conservatives are upset at the appointment.
Graham Burges, the deputy leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: “I believe the candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner should be beyond reproach and this candidate still has some questions to answer.
“I believe he should stand down and I have been contacted by many Hampshire members who have expressed a similar view.”
Yesterday David Cameron was pressed to give Mr Mates his backing during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Asked by a Labour MP whether he had full confidence in his “police commissioner candidate for Hampshire”, Mr Cameron replied that the elections had not yet taken place, saying the reforms would make the police more accountable, and hoping people would all vote for their local candidate.
In his first interview since the jailing of Nadir, Mr Mates told the Daily Echo he had resigned from the Government because of the way the media was covering the row, saying: “I became an embarrassment. It was my decision.”
He added: “Every single thing that I alleged when I was taking up the case has turned out to be true... I have a clear conscience about it all.”
Mr Mates said he was sure his political opponents would try to use it against him: “I am aware that it will come up, I have absolutely nothing to hide.”
Mr Mates said he had been supported at the time by the then Prime Minister, John Major, adding: “The fact that he’s convicted 20 years later is neither here nor there.”
He said he had not seen Nadir since the fugitive returned to the country to face trial.
The 78-year-old insisted the affair had taught him the need for close scrutiny of public officials, something he pledged to continue if elected to the new job.
Also running for the £80,000 job, which will replace Hampshire Police Authority, are Southampton Labour councillor Jacqui Rayment and i n d e pendent candidate and Crimestoppers chief Simon Hayes.
Comments(17)
Stillness
says...
2:45pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Stillness
says...
2:46pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Stillness
says...
2:48pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Bartat
says...
3:55pm Fri 7 Sep 12
But let's see him talk his way out of how he bought his way out of Dolphin Square - and still hasn't paid a penny back. Mrs Gidley had to - now it's Mates' turn to cough up!
Bartat
says...
3:58pm Fri 7 Sep 12
So when he went to the Old Bailey as a character witness was it "in camera"?
Huffter
says...
5:18pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Scrutinizer
says...
7:48pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Stillness
says...
8:18pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Scrutinizer wrote:Michael's mates will see that he gets the job.
Michael Mates:“The fact that he’s (Nadir) convicted 20 years later is neither here nor there.” Oh yes, it d@mn well is! What planet does this silly, naive and arrogant man live on exactly?! It is absolutely out of the question now and quite clear, that he (Mates) has totally discredited himself and should not be anywhere near the position of Hampshire Police Commisioner!
Bartat
says...
10:20pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Peter Jenkins
says...
10:24pm Fri 7 Sep 12
skin2000
says...
12:30pm Sat 8 Sep 12
How about Ronnie Biggs?
Scrutinizer
says...
7:18pm Sat 8 Sep 12
Peter Jenkins wrote:Well, in my book, yours and no doubt many others - surely including some hardcore Tories too - it has to be worrying, doesn't it?!
A criminal conviction is "neither here nor there" says someone wanting to be in charge of the Police. Am I missing something or is that not rather worrying?
Scrutinizer
says...
7:20pm Sat 8 Sep 12
Huffter wrote:Actually, you know, I think you have something of a point there!
At 78 he's probably got nothing to lose - better to vote for a man who has!
Scrutinizer
says...
7:25pm Sat 8 Sep 12
Stillness wrote:'Mates'; Maybe his father should have used 'em! Get it?! ;-)
Scrutinizer wrote: Michael Mates:“The fact that he’s (Nadir) convicted 20 years later is neither here nor there.” Oh yes, it d@mn well is! What planet does this silly, naive and arrogant man live on exactly?! It is absolutely out of the question now and quite clear, that he (Mates) has totally discredited himself and should not be anywhere near the position of Hampshire Police Commisioner!Michael's mates will see that he gets the job.
Stillness
says...
7:34pm Sat 8 Sep 12
Scrutinizer wrote:If only.
Stillness wrote:'Mates'; Maybe his father should have used 'em! Get it?! ;-)
Scrutinizer wrote: Michael Mates:“The fact that he’s (Nadir) convicted 20 years later is neither here nor there.” Oh yes, it d@mn well is! What planet does this silly, naive and arrogant man live on exactly?! It is absolutely out of the question now and quite clear, that he (Mates) has totally discredited himself and should not be anywhere near the position of Hampshire Police Commisioner!Michael's mates will see that he gets the job.
Inform Al
says...
8:08pm Sun 9 Sep 12
Stillness says...
2:41pm Fri 7 Sep 12