ELECTORAL FRAUD IN HACKNEY

Early day motion 811, tabled 12 July 1999 by Brian Sedgemore (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House condemns leading Tories in Hackney for engaging in electoral fraud in the current by-election in Rectory Ward; believes that it is despicable for Tory councillors to deceive frail, elderly life-long Labour voters into giving proxy votes to Tories by telling them that they are signing a petition to increase pensions; notes that the Electoral Registration Officer has refused to accept as valid proxy votes proven to have been obtained in this manner; is concerned at the great distress caused to the elderly people involved; is aghast that the leading perpetrators of the fraud are Tory Councillor Isaac Leibowitz and his friends backed by the Tory Leader on the Council, Councillor Eric Ollerenshaw OBE who himself fraudulently holds a proxy vote for a life-long Labour voter who has a Labour poster in her window; calls on the police to charge the Tory fraudsters; believes that the Government should take steps to ensure the removal from Councillor Ollerenshaw of his OBE such is the disgrace that he has brought on Hackney; and calls on the Tory Party to expel Councillors Leibowitz and Ollerenshaw from their ranks.

Signatures by party: Labour 29.