London - The Former Conservative grandee Dame Shirley Porter lost the final round yesterday of a long-running legal battle to clear her name in a "homes for votes" scandal that took place while she ran Westminster City Council.
The House of Lords overturned a 1999 Appeal Court verdict quashing a 1997 High Court ruling which upheld findings against her and deputy council leader Mr David Weeks. District auditor Mr John Magill had accused the pair of selling council houses cheaply in marginal wards to win votes for the ruling Conservatives.
The five law lords also ruled Porter and Weeks owed nearly £27 million to the public purse.