Five people have been arrested as part of allegations that fake independent candidates were used to influence the outcome of a local election in Tameside.
Greater Manchester police said four men and a woman, aged between 23 and 47, were arrested on suspicion of fraud offences during raids in the Ashton-under-Lyne area on Thursday morning (21 May).
The force said the arrests related to ‘the process of how candidates were put forward and represented in the ward, and if this adhered to the relevant legislation and electoral procedures’.
The allegations focus on the St Peter’s ward election in May, where claims emerged that individuals were encouraged to stand as independent candidates in an attempt to divide opposition votes and benefit the Labour party candidate.
The Mill, a Manchester-based newspaper, reported some candidates didn’t have a lot of visible campaign activity and were difficult to contact during the election period.
Atta Ul-Rasool, the Labour candidate, won the St Peter’s ward seat by 177 votes ahead of independent candidate Ahmed Mehmood. He was the only Labour candidate to secure a seat in Tameside during the election.
Two other independent candidates, Marie Fairhurst and Muhammad Ali, received a combined total of 291 votes.
Following the election result, Tameside Correspondent reported that Fairhurst said she had not been aware she was standing as a candidate.
While investigations are ongoing, the council said is it ‘working closely with the police and other relevant authorities’.
In a statement that was sent to The Correspondent, a council spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of the investigation by Greater Manchester Police into alleged offences committed leading up to the local elections in Tameside.
‘We place great importance on upholding the integrity of the electoral process and we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to support their investigation.
‘We will continue to assist as required and will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing.’
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