No action against election overspend by Conservative MP David Mundell

As the voters of Oldham East & Saddleworth prepare for a Parliamentary by-election after the courts found Labour MP Phil Woolas guilty lying about the Lib Dem candidate, the voters of Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale can heave a huge sigh of relief.

The Conservatives only MP in Scotland, David Mundell has been told that no further action will be taken after the investigation into his election expenses.

David Mundell overspent during the election and had split the costs of a newspaper advert between the long and short campaigns.

From day one he admitted human error.

The action open to the courts is limited from a slap on the wrist, to a £5,000 fine or a full re-run of the election and being barred from standing for public office.

In addition there is the public humiliation that goes with it.

I always thought the maximum David Mundell faced was the fine.

This was never going to turn into the Scottish version of Oldham East & Saddleworth.

Today's judgement is embarrassing enough for David Mundell MP and the Scottish Conservatives.

Maybe next time his Agent will use a calculator and David will check everything before he signs the forms.