Thomas Bridge 27 May 2014

Tower Hamlets vote count in ‘chaos’, cllr claims

Vote counting at Tower Hamlets has been branded an ‘omnishambles’, with officials reportedly facing ‘arguments, threats and chaos’.

A councillor today branded the borough's local election count a ‘shocker’, claiming political activists challenged ‘vote after vote’ at the counting tables as ballots were totalled in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Results announced on Saturday declared independent candidate Lutfur Rahman had defended his position as the local mayor. However counting for the local elections was suspended later that morning.

Six council wards in the east London borough required voting recounts, with results from Bromley South being verified from 18:30 tonight.

The head of the Conservative group at Tower Hamlets, Peter Golds, claims one ward witnessed a 21% discrepancy between its first and second vote count.

The borough has been dogged by allegations of voter fraud in recent months. An investigation into the town hall by law firm PricewaterhouseCoopers is expected to pass its findings to communities secretary Eric Pickles later this summer.

In an online statement, Golds maintained historic issues regarding the voting process at Tower Hamlets had been ‘ignored’.

When counting was last suspended, both Rahman’s Tower Hamlets First and Labour held 18 seats at the council.

A council spokesperson said a local electoral protocol had produced ‘the most stringent set of electoral measures in the capital, if not the country’.

‘However this need for transparency has lengthened the time taken to count the vote and our view is that accuracy is more important than speed.

‘We will review our practice following the elections but broadly the new measures worked well and allegations of wrongdoing were investigated swiftly by the Returning Officer and where necessary by the Police,’ the spokesperson added.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner