With only six days remaining to the Election, Labour's Bradford North candidate, Terry Rooney, says he would like to see the matter resolved as soon as possible. It is quite an inordinate number of people suddenly requesting postal votes out of line with the rest of the district. I mean you have got the situation in some wards where street after street, after street, every elector in every house has suddenly requested a postal vote. Police are searching for the gangs responsible and trying to shed light on who could be behind it. The wards affected are Bradford Moor ward, University ward and Toller ward.
Democracy is very very sacred and people mess around with it at their peril.
Bradford Council's Chief Executive, Ian Stewart, who is Acting Returning Officer for the district has now written to candidates and their agents highlighting concerns that the system could be exploited. Mr Stewart is warning that legal action could be taken and those concerned prosecuted if anyone is found trying to rig the system, and that details of complaints have now been passed on to the police in Bradford. I would urge any voter who is asked to hand over an incomplete postal vote to refuse to do so and to report the matter to the police immediately.