Postal scandal
Blair blamed over postal votes scandal
Michael Howard has pointed the finger of blame at Tony Blair as fears intensify over the likelihood of a postal voting fraud scandal engulfing the May 5 general election.
With applications for postal votes rocketing by as much as 500 per cent in marginal constituencies, concern is growing that corrupt elements might seek to exploit the system, in the wake of fraud cases which rocked earlier elections in places like Birmingham and Blackburn.For the first time in a general election, the Labour government has invited international observers to monitor the integrity of the campaign, with a special emphasis on the postal voting system.
But speaking at a Conservative campaign conference, Mr Howard said the Prime Minister was to blame for ignoring an earlier call from experts to introduce tougher measures to protect the voting system from fraud.He said: I think it is a scandal, and Mr Blair should be thoroughly ashamed of what he has done with our democracy. If we had had our way, the recommendations of the Electoral Commission would have been accepted and implemented, and we would not have a voting system fit for a banana republic, which is what a High Court judge said is the present
position."Mr Howard reckoned that the Commission's recommendations for stricter controls had been accepted by other Government ministers and officials, who were then overruled from the top when it was appreciated "that certain catagories of voters favourable to the Labour Party might be less inclined to vote".He rejected suggestions that the Conservative Party was not observing the Commission's recommendations. "We are completely within the rules in every respect. If anybody can offer me an example in which a Conservative candidate is not complying with the rules, let me know and I will take action to deal with it," he promised.
Michael Howard has pointed the finger of blame at Tony Blair as fears intensify over the likelihood of a postal voting fraud scandal engulfing the May 5 general election.
With applications for postal votes rocketing by as much as 500 per cent in marginal constituencies, concern is growing that corrupt elements might seek to exploit the system, in the wake of fraud cases which rocked earlier elections in places like Birmingham and Blackburn.For the first time in a general election, the Labour government has invited international observers to monitor the integrity of the campaign, with a special emphasis on the postal voting system.
But speaking at a Conservative campaign conference, Mr Howard said the Prime Minister was to blame for ignoring an earlier call from experts to introduce tougher measures to protect the voting system from fraud.He said: I think it is a scandal, and Mr Blair should be thoroughly ashamed of what he has done with our democracy. If we had had our way, the recommendations of the Electoral Commission would have been accepted and implemented, and we would not have a voting system fit for a banana republic, which is what a High Court judge said is the present
position."Mr Howard reckoned that the Commission's recommendations for stricter controls had been accepted by other Government ministers and officials, who were then overruled from the top when it was appreciated "that certain catagories of voters favourable to the Labour Party might be less inclined to vote".He rejected suggestions that the Conservative Party was not observing the Commission's recommendations. "We are completely within the rules in every respect. If anybody can offer me an example in which a Conservative candidate is not complying with the rules, let me know and I will take action to deal with it," he promised.
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