South Wales Police received a number of complaints from members of the public concerned that their details had been used on Richard Barnes’ nomination form. Mr Barnes stood for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney in the recent election, but received only 1,173 votes.
Before a prospective candidate is allowed to stand, he or she must obtain 10 signatures: a proposer, a seconder and those who signed the nomination papers. Police investigated the claims and as a result a 30-year-old man was arrested and later cautioned for tampering with ballot nomination papers after he was found to be responsible for forging signatures.
A South Wales Police spokesman said: “Mr Barnes was unaware of the actions and the man was cautioned on May 16.”
Ronald Fealey, of Penydarren, was one of those who had his name used to forge a signature. He said: “Someone told me my name was on the nomination form and I thought they were taking the Mick about it. My son downloaded the nomination form and there my name was. I reported it to the returning officer and they informed the police. I don’t know why my name was chosen, it possibly could have been out of a hat for all I know.”
Katy Meredith, of Church Street, Penydarren, was also a victim of the deception. She did not sign the nomination papers and said she did not vote BNP.
The Echo contacted the BNP but received no response.
Merthyr Tydfil Council was unable to help the Echo contact Richard Barnes, but did say: “Fraudulently signing election nomination papers is a criminal offence. Therefore, when Merthyr council was officially made aware that there was a potential issue with one of the candidates’ nomination papers the week after the election, the matter was referred directly to South Wales Police for investigation. Merthyr council has no further role.”
Wales Online
14 comments:
Cautioned? What the hell?
I thought electoral fraud resulted in prison sentences??????
Oh, it's the BNP, bless-'em.
They can get away with murder!
When is the law gonna get tough on the BNP and the EDL?
Piss-poor state continuing to dole out meaningless cautions and paltry fines to the neo-Nazi nobodies.
This weekend's EDL fash march ends at the Bigg Market.
Why does the EDL need its followers to get pissed and start fighting during every march?
Can't they support the EDL's paranoid anti-immigrant politics when they are sober?
The EDL must be congratulated for persuading their members to lose their ginoumous beer bellies and man-mammories.
Their Newcastle march ending at a "big market".
Their fuhrers must be putting them on the five-a-day diet, insisting they end their goosestepping with basketfuls of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Next they'll be cutting down on chips, pizzas and curries to keep in trim, and stopping SKY TV,. spending their subscription money on gym subscriptions.
You've read it first, here!
Seeing as many curries are Halal, EDL supporters should find staying out of kebab shops a complete and absolute doddle.
Now if any Mainstream Political Party had done this all hell would have been let loose.
By concidence I had arranged to have a liason meeting / Beer with Dai Havord's (Lab Merthyr) agent tonight to discus future activities.
We were both stunned to learn that this was dealt with as a "caution" by the South Wales plods.
Gerald (DH's Agent) was happy to confirm that he was not consulted on this.
And no way, no way, do we believe that the candidate was "unaware of this".
A few years ago I was involved in a council By election in the Watling Ward of Swale District Council in Faversham Kent.
There was a NF Candidate nominated, and papers in (alledgely)good order.
Come the result the Nutzie vote was (IIRC) 7. Three less than the numbers needed to nominate.
Plod was informed, and nothing was done.
It may be usefull if in future Agents or Candidates ask for the "Statutary" Question to be put to the names on the nomination papers. This at least will force some proof of identity.
And give Plod a basis to prosecute.
Old Sailor
( Who commutes between Kent and Glamorgan )
So many peaceful events and festivals, such as cambridge strawberry fayre have been stopped by councils making them pay for the policing of the event. Notice that they have charged the EDL yet, despite the urine and damage inflicted on public buildings. Its almost as if they need hundreds of hours of footage from violent public assemblies . . for some reason?? mmmm state op?
You can be sure if this was news about voting irregularity done by an ethnic minority it would be plastered on the front page about "importing third world corruption" or scapegoating ethnic minorities. As its BNP though they'll claim its a liblabcon conspiracy and its not their fault
What chance do any of these muppets have of gathering 2,000 authentic signatures for a leadership challenge to Griffin?
So Barnes didn't know? So wheres this going?
If im not mistaken here this was the first time the BNP stood in merthyr and presents us something of a problem as they polled only a few hundred behind Plaid
"What chance do any of these muppets have of gathering 2,000 authentic signatures for a leadership challenge to Griffin?"
Perhaps they will forge them ?
Old Sailor
"Why does the EDL need its followers to get pissed and start fighting during every march?"
Dutch courage - most of them are cowards sober.
"If im not mistaken here this was the first time the BNP stood in merthyr and presents us something of a problem as they polled only a few hundred behind Plaid"
Actually the Nats have the problems !
http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Merthyr+Tydfil+%26+Rhymney
Read the figures.
Old Sailor
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