Oh! Mrs Porter

The High Court in London has ruled that the former leader of Westminster City Council and her deputy must pay more than forty million dollars for what was described in a report as wilful misconduct and disgraceful gerrymandering.

The council leader, Shirley Porter, and her deputy, David Weeks, had been ordered to pay the surcharge after a lengthy inquiry by the district auditor.

He found that they had deliberately sold houses cheaply to people they believed would be Conservative voters, in an attempt to retain control of the council for their party.

Correspondents say Dame Shirley, who has considerable assets both in the UK and abroad, may face criminal charges if she refuses to pay her surcharge.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service