In our virtually abuse-proof voting system when only polling stations were used for both Local and General Elections, there was a token presence of the odd policeman calling in throughout the polling day to see if there were any security problems.

The procedure worked so well that any abuse was practically unknown. Now the 5 page exposé in a national newspaper highlights electoral fraud in the Birmingham court case trial which culminated in the summing up by Judge Richard Mawrey Q.C. who stated that: “at least 14 fraudulent opportunities are possible in the current mass postal voting system”. Our Party has noted these concerns and would like to ask the following question: “what additional checks and precautions are now in place to counter these serious abuses with the General Election looming in a few weeks time and with our residents poised once again to vote for their preferred candidate?”

There have already been reports of illegal voting activities in numerous towns and cities throughout the country regarding the outcome of the 2004 local elections. Even a mayor in the Cheshire area was arrested on suspicion of personation ( casting a vote in another person's name) . The eminent judge also added such derisory comments as: “we’ve adopted a voting system that would disgrace a banana republic”.