The 'homes for votes'

The Conservatives in Westminster identified eight marginal wards where more Tory votes would be needed to win the 1990 local elections. Council homes - normally the domicile of Labour voters - were sold off in the hope they would be bought by young professionals more likely to vote Tory.

What happened then?

After investigating complaints from Labour councillors, district auditor John Magill accused councillors of "wilful misconduct and improper gerrymandering". Grants of up to £15,000 had been spent helping council tenants move out.

How much did it cost?

The costs included: £13.3m in selling council homes with large discounts, £2.6m in capital grants for buying private homes, £1.89m in salary and administration costs, £1.97m in securing empty homes and unpaid rents and £2.09m in temporary housing for the homeless. Dame Shirley and her deputy, David Weeks, were eventually surcharged for £27m.

Were criminal charges brought?

Of 16 people originally accused of misconduct by the auditor, none got a criminal conviction.

Why didn't they pay back the money?

Dame Shirley claimed her lawyers had advised her she was doing nothing wrong. In 1999 the Appeal Court, by a 2-1 majority, quashed the surcharge. They said that "voter-pleasing decisions" by councils, such as cutting rents or rates, were lawful.

What was the political fall-out?

The affair tarnished Dame Shirley's reputation as a crusader against the loony Left. She claimed she was the victim of a political witchhunt. Westminster councillor Dr Michael Dutt, who shot himself in January 1994, blamed the stress of the investigation in his suicide note.