Police probe election threats

Imran Hussain, pictured, said he had received several anonymous telephone calls warning that he and his family were in danger unless he withdrew his application to stand for the UK Independence Party in the Bradford West constituency.

But Mr Hussain, of Nearcliffe Road, Manningham, decided to submit his official papers to City Hall by yesterday's nomination deadline and is now an official candidate.

Bradford West Liberal-Democrat candidate Abdul Rauf Khan has also said that he had received threatening phone calls telling him to withdraw his candidacy.

Bradford West which is being defended by Labour candidate Marsha Singh is regarded as one of the country's key marginals.

But it is also one of the most volatile, and there was fighting in the streets after the count at the last General Election.

Mr Hussain's agent, Dr Richard North, said another UK Independence Party member who had planned to stand in Bradford North had decided to withdraw after receiving similar threats.

Today a Bradford police spokesman said: "I can confirm we have had a complaint from an election candidate that he was allegedly threatened and offered financial inducement to withdraw from the election."

Condemning the threats, Tory candidate Mohammed Riaz said: "This is a democratic and civilised society where every individual has the right to stand and participate and this should be encouraged."

Bradford Council's chief executive Ian Stewart - the district's Returning Officer - was today meeting police chiefs to draw up an action plan to avert trouble on election day on June 7.

Today Mr Hussain, 24, said about the threats: "They phoned me on Monday afternoon and spoke in Punjabi but withheld their phone number.

"First they said if we withdrew they could offer me money.

"After that they said if I didn't withdraw before yesterday's deadline, they would do something to me because I would be splitting the Muslim vote.

"I took their threats seriously and was a bit scared, especially for my family. But this is a democracy and I can stand for whoever I want."

Liberal Democrat Mr Khan said he had suffered similar threats: "I've received threatening phone calls which have said if I don't withdraw I'll get beaten up. It was an unidentified caller. But I won't give into it, I'm not scared, and I will continue to stand."

The UKIP candidate forced to withdraw his nomination, who did not want to be named, said: "I was threatened over the phone with physical violence, but they were made personally to my wife and that is why I pulled out."

Dr North, also research director for UKIP, said the withdrawal of one its candidates was a blow to the party's attempts at proving it was all inclusive.

He said: "I'm appalled. We have worked very, very hard to build trust with the Asian community.

"We have had several open meetings with the elders and we had high hopes of fielding two candidates.

"It was also very important nationally as our party has often been associated with the British National Party and we have been the subject of some wicked slurs about being racist."

Mr Stewart said the pre-arranged meeting with police was part of new procedures as he took over the post of Returning Officer for the first time.

But he warned special measures would also be in place to stop the fraudulent use of postal votes in polling stations.

The number issued in the district has more than doubled to 10,500 so far since the Government lifted restrictions, giving everyone the right to vote by post.

But at previous elections there have been complaints that people voted using slips which had been issued to other electors.

"We will be considering how best to ensure the right arrangements and atmosphere for people to vote in a way which supports the democratic process," said Mr Stewart.

He said he would also meet election agents next week and asking them to play a part in maintaining high standards.

The other Bradford West candidates are Mohammed Riaz (Conservative); Farhan Hussain (Asian League) and John Edward Robinson (Green).