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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Tower Hamlets count probed by Electoral Commission | Tower Hamlets count probed by Electoral Commission |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Electoral Commission is to launch an investigation into vote counting for the local election in Tower Hamlets. | |
| Counting has been suspended twice and is due to resume for a third time at 18:30 BST. | Counting has been suspended twice and is due to resume for a third time at 18:30 BST. |
| The commission said it would be sending observers to the count and "looking closely" at the process. | |
| The east London borough council has attributed the delay to the mayoral and European elections being held together, a large turnout and recounts. | |
| The Electoral Commission review comes after the body said it was aware of reports of intimidation at counts and polling stations. | |
| Speaking to the PM programme on BBC Radio 4, John Williams, the returning officer for Tower Hamlets, said that the council had not received widespread allegations of intimidation on polling day. | |
| "We found there were numbers of people outside polling stations," he said. | |
| "But we didn't find people inside the polling place, and we didn't find the people outside the polling stations were intimidating voters." | |
| Shouting crowds | |
| The Electoral Commission said it was too early to say what issues at the count were but stressed people should be able to vote "free from intimidation". | The Electoral Commission said it was too early to say what issues at the count were but stressed people should be able to vote "free from intimidation". |
| In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Clearly there have been issues at the Tower Hamlets count and we need to make sure we understand what happened, and the reasons for it, before reaching any conclusions. | In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Clearly there have been issues at the Tower Hamlets count and we need to make sure we understand what happened, and the reasons for it, before reaching any conclusions. |
| "As part of our review, we will be talking to the returning officer and regional returning officer. | "As part of our review, we will be talking to the returning officer and regional returning officer. |
| "We will be looking closely at what happened during the count, as well as the planning that took place beforehand." | "We will be looking closely at what happened during the count, as well as the planning that took place beforehand." |
| Mr Williams, the returning officer for the borough council, defended the process saying new measures had been put in place after around 100 allegations of fraud were made in the borough after the 2012 election for London mayor, but he pointed out that none of the allegations had been proven. | |
| He added that the Electoral Commission had not raised any issues on polling day, he said: "On election day they reported no concerns... to me, and they were in the borough all day". | |
| Politicians said they witnessed crowds shouting at people as they arrived to cast their votes and they claimed leaflets were left in booths to influence voters. | Politicians said they witnessed crowds shouting at people as they arrived to cast their votes and they claimed leaflets were left in booths to influence voters. |
| Labour Mile End councillor Rachael Saunders told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a real worry from a lot of people that the police committed there would only be two people per party allowed to be outside the polling stations. | Labour Mile End councillor Rachael Saunders told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a real worry from a lot of people that the police committed there would only be two people per party allowed to be outside the polling stations. |
| "But in fact there were huge crowds at some, shouting at people or encouraging them to vote in a particular way." | "But in fact there were huge crowds at some, shouting at people or encouraging them to vote in a particular way." |
| She added that presiding officers should have ensured leaflets were removed from booths but failed to do so. | She added that presiding officers should have ensured leaflets were removed from booths but failed to do so. |
| 'Out-of-hours' count | |
| Leader of the Conservative group Peter Golds said: "They were picking on certain residents and going up to them trying to persuade them to vote right up to the moment they entered the room to vote." | Leader of the Conservative group Peter Golds said: "They were picking on certain residents and going up to them trying to persuade them to vote right up to the moment they entered the room to vote." |
| The Met said "no major incidents" were reported. | |
| Acting Supt Helen Lewis, of Tower Hamlets borough police, urged anyone who may have witnessed behaviour that could amount to criminal activity to come forward. | Acting Supt Helen Lewis, of Tower Hamlets borough police, urged anyone who may have witnessed behaviour that could amount to criminal activity to come forward. |
| She said: "Although we have received no allegations of harassment, intimidation or fraudulent behaviour at polling stations, we would, of course, be keen to speak with anyone who has concerns." | She said: "Although we have received no allegations of harassment, intimidation or fraudulent behaviour at polling stations, we would, of course, be keen to speak with anyone who has concerns." |
| The council is having to complete the count "out of hours" because of staffing issues, a spokesman said. | The council is having to complete the count "out of hours" because of staffing issues, a spokesman said. |
| Counting was first suspended by the returning officer because of the delay processing votes for the borough's mayoral election. | Counting was first suspended by the returning officer because of the delay processing votes for the borough's mayoral election. |
| It was suspended again on Monday. | |
| The Bromley South ward ballots will be recounted later and could decide overall control of the council chamber, an authority spokesman said. | The Bromley South ward ballots will be recounted later and could decide overall control of the council chamber, an authority spokesman said. |
| When counting was last suspended, Tower Hamlets First - which was backing re-elected mayor Lutfur Rahman - and Labour had 18 seats each. | When counting was last suspended, Tower Hamlets First - which was backing re-elected mayor Lutfur Rahman - and Labour had 18 seats each. |
| Four Conservatives had been elected. | Four Conservatives had been elected. |