The criticism, made on the eve of the local elections, comes from the Labour-controlled Public Administration Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the government's constitutional reforms. It is likely to demand the introduction of some form of individual - rather than household - registration, which would require photo ID. The committee believes ministers have been resisting change for three years despite calls from the Electoral Commission to tighten procedures to prevent identity fraud.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Election Fraud: Labour Failed To Act, Say MPs
Ministers have failed to act decisively against postal ballot fraud because they fear stirring up controversy in ethnic minority communities where most cases of abuse have been uncovered, senior Labour MPs admitted today in an article penned by Guardian Political Editor Patrick Wintour. One MP conceded that the government had also been reluctant to tighten procedures in case it depressed the Labour vote.
The criticism, made on the eve of the local elections, comes from the Labour-controlled Public Administration Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the government's constitutional reforms. It is likely to demand the introduction of some form of individual - rather than household - registration, which would require photo ID. The committee believes ministers have been resisting change for three years despite calls from the Electoral Commission to tighten procedures to prevent identity fraud.
The criticism, made on the eve of the local elections, comes from the Labour-controlled Public Administration Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the government's constitutional reforms. It is likely to demand the introduction of some form of individual - rather than household - registration, which would require photo ID. The committee believes ministers have been resisting change for three years despite calls from the Electoral Commission to tighten procedures to prevent identity fraud.
If you have information about election fraud in Hackney, this is the place to blow the whistle. You can contact this website confidentially by clicking on "comments" below the most recent posting and sending a comment under an anonymous or fictitious name. Unlike email, this service does not transmit any address information from which you can be traced. The service is managed by the Blogger hosting service but moderated by me, so I will read your comments before publishing and will respect any request not to publish. Bear in mind that, as I will not receive any address information, the only way I will be able to respond will be via a follow-up comment.
A word about evidence. Most of what people think is material evidence of a criminal offence is in fact either hearsay evidence (asserted, but without any proof) or circumstantial evidence (suggests guilt but does not prove it). For an introduction to the subject of evidence, try: