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BALLOT BOX SKULDUGGERY CLAIMS

03-05-2007

Blimey! Election day isn’t over yet, and already there are claims of skulduggery at the ballot box - with Birmingham’s Lib-Dems accusing Labour of unethical behaviour.

The first allegation centres on an inner city ward, where Lib Dem councillor John Hemming reckons the presiding officer has been encouraging voters to support the socialists and says he’s got the witnesses to prove it.

Keith Hanson, Labour’s regional organiser took a laid back view, saying that he wasn’t aware of any wrong-doing, but that if there’s a complaint, it should be referred to the elections office.

Hemming also claims that there’s been unusual behaviour at the polling stations in Ward End Primary School and at Hodge Hill Common (see picture here), with the presiding officers allowing Labour to collect voters used polling cards.

By checking these, party organisers can avoid “knocking up” voters who have already turned out, and focus their energies on those who haven’t.

Hemming says that he has “never heard” of such a system before, and believes there has been collusion between the presiding officers and the party - although he admits that he too was allowed access to the cards.

On this one, Hanson doesn’t deny that his party set up the boxes, but insists the information gathered would be shared with any party that asked for it apart from the BNP of NF.

“This one will go further” vows Hemming.