10 Oct 2008

Electoral Commission clears Labour MP over advertising

12:17 pm on 10 October 2008

A Labour Party MP has been cleared of distributing illegal advertising under the Electoral Finance Act.

The Electoral Commission has dismissed two complaints, including one against Pete Hodgson, saying any breach of the law was not intentional.

One complaint was laid by a National Party member, over a fundraising letter from Mr Hodgson earlier this year.

The letter suggests donations to the Labour Century Fund would be a way to support the party's election chances.

The commission ruled the letter is an election advertisement, and should therefore carry a statement saying who authorised it.

But it accepts the MP did not leave out that statement on purpose.

The commission also dismissed a similar complaint against Clinton Smith, a protester who distributed material satirising the National Party outside its conference in August.

The ruling states Mr Smith thought he had met the requirements of the law, and therefore committed no offence.