MP hits out over elections

WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has launched an outspoken attack on the borough council and its chief executive in the wake of the investigation into irregularities in this year’s election.
She says the report by John Turner, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators is “devastating” and claims it has serious implications for the council and its chief executive.
Ms Jones (pictured) says she has been approached by Michael Wills, the Minister responsible for elections, who has been “appalled” by the findings of the report.
She said: “He has asked to meet me to discuss the matter in detail.”
The report has provided useful ammunition for the MP who has been involved in a long-running feud with the council and chief executive Diana Terris.
She says the very least Mrs Terris should do is resign the position of returning officer for the elections.
Ms Jones said: “The returning officer and the council tried to brush off complaints made by me and by candidates and agents from across the borough and from all political parties. The Turner report shows them to have been wrong to do so.
“Mr Turner upholds all the complaints which I raised.”
Ms Jones raised the issue in an adjournment debate in Parliament in June.
She said there had been serious organisational failings in the management of the elections.
The contract for the printing of ballot papers and postal votes had neither been properly negotiated nor properly supervised.
“Whoever was responsible should now be subject to disciplinary action,” says the MP.
“It is clear that the council did not allocate enough resources to run these elections properly, yet ensuring that people have the right to cast their vote is one of their most important duties. They failed to do this and the executive board member responsible should resign.
“The report is clear. If changes are not made there are doubts about the ability of this authority to fully comply with the legal requirements of running elections.
” Most of all it is clear from the report that the returning officer failed to prepare properly for the elections, failed to ensure that the elections and count were run properly and failed to follow Electoral Commission guidance.
“The honourable thing to do would be to resign as returning officer. At the very least she should pay back the fee she received as returning officer, having failed to carry out her duties properly.”
Mrs Terris – who called for the independent report into the elections herself – has accepted its findings and apologised to candidates who made justified complaints.
She has pledged to ensure that every recommendation in the report is acted upon swiftly and properly. She will also ensure the resources are made available to implement the recommendations.
Mrs Terris said: “I would, however, like to reassure the voters of Warrington that we have not stood still while this review was underway. We have already made significant progress in a number of the areas identified by Mr Turner.
“For example, steps have been taken to review how electoral services are provided and the level of resource dedicated to this area has already been enhanced. We have developed a detailed project plan and risk assessment for future elections and will be putting in place a thorough training programme for all staff involved in elections. A project board, chaired by me and with senior representation from across the council, will oversee all elections planning and will be ensuring that all appropriate scrutiny is focused on the electoral services function.”