Clegg blames returning officer for poll problems

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, whose Sheffield Hallam constituency was among those where people still in queues at 10pm were stopped from casting their ballots, said "simply passing a law" would not resolve the issue – despite the Electoral Commission calling on the Government to do just that.

A review by the Electoral Commission into the problems earlier this year found that at least 1,200 people were still queuing at 27 polling stations in 16 constituencies across the country at 10pm, and called for "urgent changes" to electoral law to ensure those queuing at the close of polls were permitted to vote.

Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn has called for Ministers to act to prevent a repeat of the situation in future and criticised the Government for failing to introduce any measures in a Bill currently going through Parliament which will set up a referendum on changing the voting system.

Ms Munn questioned Mr Clegg on the issue in the House of Commons yesterday, saying: "Why have you not taken the opportunity of legislation currently before Parliament to change the law so that in future, all those in the polling stations at close of poll are allowed to vote?"

Mr Clegg said he was "acutely aware of the problem" having visited polling stations on election day but added: "The question then is – what do we do about it? I just so happen to think in this particular instance, simply passing a law won't deal with the problem.

"The problem was a lack of resources, the problem was poor organisation by the returning officer in Sheffield, who acknowledged as much. That's what we need to address – not always simply reach for the statute book."

After the chaos in May Sheffield returning officer John Mothersole sent back his 20,000 fee and the council has pledged to introduce changes to prevent a repeat of the problems.