UPDATE: The Guardian claims that the postal votes had Labour and Conservative neck and neck with the LibDems trailing 5 points behind. Story here.
Tories break Electoral Law in Ealing and Southall by-election by announcing the result of the postal vote to the Telegraph which published them. Story here.
UPDATE: Story not covered on BBC1 10 O' Clock, nor on Newsnight BBC2 (at least until I walked out, then I discover that it was briefly covered as breaking news). However, I have just been informed that News 24 have picked the story up. And, that there is now a police investigation being conducted.
Police begin Southall vote probe
An investigation has been launched after a complaint from the Labour Party about alleged electoral offences in the Ealing Southall by-election.
The complaint relates to an internet blog entry which claimed to show how many postal votes each candidate had won ahead of Thursday's ballot.
The article on the Daily Telegraph website quoted "a source inside the Tory campaign".
The Metropolitan Police said the matter is being "thoroughly investigated".
The complaint was made in writing by Labour's election agent Ken Clarke, who told police the publication of purported postal voting results appeared to be a "clear breach" of electoral law.
A Met spokesman said: "I can confirm the Metropolitan Police Service has today received an allegation of possible electoral offences in relation to the Southall by-election.
"The allegation will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken."
UPDATE: Story in today's Independent here.
4 comments:
It's just been covered on Newsnight as 'breaking news'.
Shit! I walked out too early...
Not seen it on News 24 so my info may have been wrong. Or perhaps the explosion in Manhattan has driven the old: "Tories Lie and Cheat" story off the top of the news?
Never mind that though. There is a by-election going to rack and ruin just down the road. Is Grant Schweppes up to his tricks again. Police should start by investigating this rather than teller-gate. In short Lit supporting Sikh hotheads (or impersonators) have proclaimed one of the candidates dead by suicide to drive votes for Lit and/or suggest the by-election will be cancelled.
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