New Labour Leeds Postal Vote Scandal

Is it happening here in Wales too? - An undercover Times reporter made secret tape recordings last week which would appear to confirm many people’s fears that senior Labour figures are carrying out sharp practices which could have a decisive effect on the outcome of this week’s local elections.

The Electoral Commission, the official electoral watchdog, says canvassers must not solicit postal votes and should post votes only if specifically asked to do so. However, Maserat Ghafoor, a 39-year-old housewife, said she, too, had felt under pressure when a Labour councillor was brought to her home by a relative. She said the councillor asked her whether she needed help filling out her postal vote.

Politicians involved are Graham Hyde *, a Labour councillor who works as a parliamentary aide to the local MP George Mudie, a former whip and staunch Brown supporter. Keith Wakefield, the Labour group’s leader.

Wakefield yesterday denied he had ever instructed canvassers to solicit postal votes. He said the ballot paper had new instructions this year and the canvassers had merely been instructed to take details of anyone who was having difficulty. Their details would be passed on, he said, to the council’s electoral office, which could then help them

*Graham Hyde represents Seacroft, also in East Leeds. The local MP is the well known rightwing fixer and all-round Brown supporting reactionary, George Mudie. He is apt to have a finger in every Labour pie going and still thinks of himself as 'Mr. Leeds.'

Mudie's arrogance is well known and alienated many Labour voters in Gipton and Harehills in particular. His rudeness, when he develops an animosity is never far below the service.