Nigel Farage through the Gorton and Denton by-election marketing campaign (Image: Getty)
Reform has made a proper criticism to the police about alleged dishonest within the Gorton and Denton by-election. It follows claims of widespread “family voting”, which entails individuals going right into a voting sales space collectively as a substitute of voting individually. This is in opposition to the regulation and raises issues about individuals being coerced to vote a sure method by kin comparable to spouses.
Reform got here second to the Greens in Thursday’s ballot however celebration chief Nigel Farage has written to watchdog the Electoral Commission insisting there are “grave questions about the integrity of the secret ballot and public confidence in the result”. Mr Farage stated: “Reform has today reported the many cases of ‘family voting’ to the electoral commission and the police.”
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The Reform UK leader said: “What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas.
“If this is what was happening at polling stations just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes.
“If action isn’t taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next General Election.”
A bunch known as Democracy Volunteers claimed it had witnessed “concerningly high levels” of household voting in Thursday’s election, though Manchester City Council stated no points had been reported.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson stated: “Electoral offences are a matter for the police.
“We encourage anyone who believes an offence has occurred to report it to the police.”
Asked if the Prime Minister had issues in regards to the allegations, a No 10 spokesman stated: “The law is the law, and it’s essential that electors can cast their votes in secret without any risk of coercion.
“Obviously, if anyone has witnessed coercion, they should discuss that matter with their local elections team or the police.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated the studies had been “concerning”.
She informed Sky News: “People should be able to vote in a free way and not subject to any coercion, and so it would be right that the appropriate authorities, including potentially the Electoral Commission, look into those reports.”
Reform UK chief Mr Farage had earlier stated in a submit on X: “This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating.”
Asked what he meant, his celebration’s chairman David Bull informed Sky News: “The Green Party appealed to the Muslim vote. 33% of that constituency is Muslim. They printed their leaflets in Urdu.”
He added that his celebration had been additionally anxious about household voting and postal votes.
“I’m worried about electoral fraud generally.
“Am I saying it changed the outcome of this election?
“No, but I think what we do need to do is to make sure that these elections, every election, is free, democratic and fair,” he stated.
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A Greens spokesperson stated: “This is an attempt to undermine the democratic result and is straight out of the Trump playbook.
“We’ve just won a historic by-election by a comfortable margin. We’ve shown the country that Greens can beat Reform, despite their big business donations.”
Green Party chief Zack Polanski rejected any accusations of sectarianism as he was requested whether or not he had intentionally fuelled anger amongst Muslim voters with leaflets that includes photographs of Sir Keir Starmer shaking arms with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
While he accepted that Sir Keir wanted to talk to world leaders for diplomatic causes, he stated the supplies confirmed his “pally” relationship with them. Conservative Party chief Kemi Badenoch stated Labour, the Greens and Reform had all stirred up “grievance politics”.
“If you stir up grievance politics between groups based on religion or race, as Labour have done for decades, as Reform are seeking to do, and as the Greens have done successfully in this by-election, you are pitting neighbours against each other and you start to unravel the culture of tolerance that makes Britain great,” she stated.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2176453/nigel-farage-asks-police-investigate