Councillor: Even the dead voted

Labour councillor, the Reverend Paul Flowers, has formally complained about alleged "electoral malpractice" in the Great Horton ward.

He lists several allegations regarding the election of Conservative Intikhab Alam. Councillor Alam denies them all.

Coun Flowers has written to Bradford acting Chief Executive Philip Robinson, claiming votes were cast from empty addresses, others by people who weren't in the country and some by people who should have been removed from the register because they were dead.

The claim also contains supposed evidence of people registering themselves to vote twice at separate addresses. Coun Flowers also alleges "hundreds" of unused ballots were taken from voters' homes.

The letter lists almost 30 addresses or names linked to the allegations and urges a full investigation so the election result can be challenged.

It says the dossier was compiled by members of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties and ends: "We believe that these allegations are the tip of an iceberg of malpractice and electoral irregularities which have occurred in this election."

But Councillor Alam, who was sworn in at a City Hall ceremony yesterday, accused Coun Flowers of "low politics" and added: "You will find 50 Jims and 50 Toms in the ward - the names he has named are common in the Asian community. There is no truth in any of these allegations."

He described the claims of illicit voters as "a nonsense" and added: "It is just that the opposition parties are frightened they will lose their seats as well.

"This is very cheap politics they are using. None of the electorate has been forced to vote - we are in a democratic country."

And he said he has nothing to hide: "To be quite honest there is nothing against my name, I know my name is clear. To my knowledge, nobody - neither my team nor myself - has been doing this."

Coun Flowers said: "The dead voted, people who are double-registered voted twice and people who do not live at the addresses where they are registered voted.

"I will await the response from the chief executive. We have three weeks to request the High Court to make an adjudication. I am not going to let this go.

"If I felt there was any doubt at all about this I would let the matter rest, but I have never been so convinced of anything in my life."

John Hardy, campaign director for the Bradford and Shipley Conservatives, said: "We believe in high standards and, if the rules have been broken and these allegations are proven, then we stand no truck with it. We do not tolerate cheating and we will deal with it."

Bradford's acting Chief Executive Philip Robinson, said: "I have received a complaint from Coun Flowers which is being looked into."

l Following Friday's election count the Conservatives widened their gap over Labour, but the authority remained hung with no party in overall control.

All the main parties are expected to hold meetings this week to decide on who will lead them. Negotiations will then start between the parties to see if they can work together.