Phil Woolas the verdict

Whilst the BBC lead on Phil Woolas's vow that he intends to take the decision to a judicial review, The Guardian print the whole judgement, here's some extracts to show what the court said about Labour's Phil Woolas:

'"Having considered the evidence which was adduced in court we are sure that these statements were untrue. We are also sure that the respondent had no reasonable grounds for believing them to be true and did not believe them to be true.

...

The statement was false and the respondent had no reasonable ground for believing it to be true and did not believe it to be true.

"It follows in our judgment that the respondent is guilty of an illegal practice, contrary to section 136 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 with regard to those statements."

...

"We are satisfied that the statutory penalties for the illegal practices committed by the respondent are both necessary and proportionate, having regard to the seriousness of the statements made with regard to the petitioner's alleged attitude to the Muslim extremists who advocated violence."'

I wonder what the odds are on David Cameron brining up Ed Miliband's appointment of Phil Woolas to the Shadow Cabinet whilst this acse was pending?