Lib Dem Leader welcomes "triumph for justice" in Labour electoral fraud

2.34.57am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 30th Jul 2005

Cllr. Chris Rycroft: "Let's crack down on postal vote abuse".

Chelmsford Lib Dem leader Cllr. Chris Rycroft has welcomed Labour losing five seats following the rerun of the fraudulent election in Birmingham. She said, "It is a triumph for justice against all who seek an unfair advantage. At a time when we are looking for ways to improve election turnouts, it is comforting to know that electoral fraud can be stamped out."

Last year's elections in the wards were set aside by an Election Commissioner who said that ballot-rigging perpetrated in the two wards would have disgraced a banana republic and ruled that thousands of votes had been forged, stolen or otherwise tampered with.

Chris went on, "I voted against everyone HAVING to vote by post in Chelmsford Borough elections for two reasons. One of which was because I have always felt the system is open to abuse. My second reason is because it takes away the guarantee that people can vote in secret and without pressure from others to vote a particular way."

· In the Mid-Suffolk DC by-election this week, Lib Dem Evelyn Adey gained Hoxne ward from the Conservatives with a swing of nearly 14%.