This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48890803

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Conservative leadership race: Voters 'issued two ballots' Conservative leadership race: Voters 'issued two ballots'
(about 3 hours later)
Some Conservative members have been issued with more than one ballot paper to vote for the next party leader and prime minister, the BBC has learned.Some Conservative members have been issued with more than one ballot paper to vote for the next party leader and prime minister, the BBC has learned.
One party insider estimated that more than a thousand voters could be affected.One party insider estimated that more than a thousand voters could be affected.
Members are warned that voting twice will mean they are expelled, the Conservatives said.Members are warned that voting twice will mean they are expelled, the Conservatives said.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will unveil his crime policy while Jeremy Hunt will say it is time for serious leadership. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has unveiled his crime policy, while Jeremy Hunt said cuts on policing had gone too far.
Ballot papers have been dispatched to around 160,000 Conservative Party members around the country to choose between Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt as the next leader - and the next prime minister.Ballot papers have been dispatched to around 160,000 Conservative Party members around the country to choose between Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt as the next leader - and the next prime minister.
The vote closes on 22 July, with the result announced the following day.The vote closes on 22 July, with the result announced the following day.
BBC Radio 4's Today Programme has learned that some members have received two ballot papers, in some cases because members live and work in different constituencies and may have joined local Conservative Associations in both areas.BBC Radio 4's Today Programme has learned that some members have received two ballot papers, in some cases because members live and work in different constituencies and may have joined local Conservative Associations in both areas.
People who have changed their name, after marriage for example, may also have been affected.People who have changed their name, after marriage for example, may also have been affected.
The BBC has also seen duplicate ballot papers which have been issued to the same person at the same address.
'I don't vote twice''I don't vote twice'
The BBC has seen duplicate ballot papers which have been issued to the same person at the same address.
The Conservative Party and the independent body hired to scrutinise the running of the leadership election were both unable to say how many ballot papers had been sent in error.The Conservative Party and the independent body hired to scrutinise the running of the leadership election were both unable to say how many ballot papers had been sent in error.
"The ballot holds clear instructions that members voting more than once will be expelled," the party said."The ballot holds clear instructions that members voting more than once will be expelled," the party said.
Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who is chairing Mr Hunt's leadership campaign, admitted that he also gets two ballot papers as he is on two separate registers. Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who is chairing Mr Hunt's leadership campaign, admitted that he receives two ballot papers as he is on two separate registers.
"It doesn't mean I vote twice, I don't," he told the Today programme."It doesn't mean I vote twice, I don't," he told the Today programme.
Asked whether the duplicate ballots need to be more heavily policed, he said: "It's right there on the ballot paper saying you must only vote on one occasion and I expect people to do that."Asked whether the duplicate ballots need to be more heavily policed, he said: "It's right there on the ballot paper saying you must only vote on one occasion and I expect people to do that."
Mr Johnson's campaign chairman Iain Duncan Smith said he believed the Conservative Party chairman had "already been asked to look carefully at how they sift" ballots.Mr Johnson's campaign chairman Iain Duncan Smith said he believed the Conservative Party chairman had "already been asked to look carefully at how they sift" ballots.
In most elections, voting more than once would be illegal, but the leadership contest is only governed by the Conservative Party's internal rules. In most elections, voting more than once would be illegal, but the leadership contest is only governed by the Conservative Party's internal rules. The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees UK elections to ensure their integrity, has no role in the leadership contest.
The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees UK elections to ensure their integrity, has no role in the leadership contest. As they seek to win support from the party's members nationwide, both candidates addressed the Young Conservatives Conference in Nottingham on Saturday.
As they seek to win support from the party's members nationwide, both candidates will address the Young Conservatives Conference in Nottingham on Saturday. It came after Mr Johnson set out his plan to reduce crime in the Daily Mail, saying he would permanently restore stop and search powers nationwide.
Mr Johnson will set out a plan to reduce crime by permanently restoring stop and search powers nationwide. They were restricted by Theresa May as home secretary in 2014. These powers have already been restored in seven areas with high knife crime on a trial basis. Stop and search powers were restricted by Theresa May when she was home secretary in 2014. The powers have already been restored in seven areas with high knife crime on a trial basis.
He also plans to end the early release of violent offenders and address the causes of crime with a review of youth centre provision. Mr Johnson promised a "relentless focus" on knife crime and criticised the 2014 measures brought in by Mrs May.
Speaking to the Today programme Mr Duncan Smith said police needed to be given "the capabilities to do their job" as well as increasing police numbers. Mr Johnson also plans to end the early release of violent offenders and address the causes of crime with a review of youth centre provision.
Speaking to the Today programme, Mr Duncan Smith - an ally of Mr Johnson - said police needed to be given "the capabilities to do their job", as well as there being an increase in police numbers.
When asked how Mr Johnson intended on funding 20,000 extra police officers, he said: "We've had to put the economy right from the terrible Labour crash that took place in 2007, but we are very much now back on track."When asked how Mr Johnson intended on funding 20,000 extra police officers, he said: "We've had to put the economy right from the terrible Labour crash that took place in 2007, but we are very much now back on track."
But Labour's shadow policing minister Louise Haigh dismissed Mr Johnson's policies as "fairly meaningless, cheap headline grabbing measures". But Labour's shadow policing minister Louise Haigh dismissed Mr Johnson's policies as "meaningless" branding them "cheap headline-grabbing measures".
Mr Hunt will tell the conference "we are in a time of real and present danger to our country" which calls for "competence, delivery and serious leadership". At the Nottingham hustings, Mr Johnson said the Tories should be presenting itself as a party that is "committed to social justice".
"It's time to make a hard choice for the future not a feel-good one for the summer," he will say. He said that would also mean "championing the environment", with measures to promote cleaner air, protect wildlife and reduce the amount of plastic being used.
Sir Patrick said a "broad brush of people right across the whole party" have come out to support Mr Hunt. "Our modern Conservative agenda is not only right for the economy, it's deeply progressive," he said.
Mr Hunt told the conference that government cuts had gone too far on social care and policing.
"I have been clear that we do have some headroom in our national finances that would allow us to find extra funding for those public services," he said.
He added that he "thought he could" match Mr Johnson's plan to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers.
Mr Johnson remains the frontrunner in the contest, with a recent YouGov poll of Tory members suggesting almost three-quarters of Conservatives back him.
But Sir Patrick said a "broad brush of people right across the whole party" have come out to support Mr Hunt.
He added that the foreign secretary was not wedded to leaving the EU by the "magical deadline" of 31 October, which he says is a "do or die" issue for frontrunner Mr Johnson.He added that the foreign secretary was not wedded to leaving the EU by the "magical deadline" of 31 October, which he says is a "do or die" issue for frontrunner Mr Johnson.
He said Mr Hunt's "10 point plan very clearly" set out his plan for leaving the EU.He said Mr Hunt's "10 point plan very clearly" set out his plan for leaving the EU.
Sir Patrick said: "By the end of September he would decide, along with the Cabinet... whether we move forward with no deal or whether there was a chance of getting a deal".Sir Patrick said: "By the end of September he would decide, along with the Cabinet... whether we move forward with no deal or whether there was a chance of getting a deal".
On Mr Hunt's well-publicised comments on a vote on lifting the ban on fox hunting, Sir Patrick said he "merely stated what the manifesto commitment was" in 2017, and that fox hunting laws were not going to change in this Parliament.
Mr Duncan Smith said the British public were "betrayed" when the UK did not leave the EU on 29 March, and added: "If you don't get the message now that we don't deliver then we end up in a real crisis on 31 October."
Are you a Conservative member who has received more than one ballot paper to vote for the next party leader? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you a Conservative member who has received more than one ballot paper to vote for the next party leader? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below