Exclusive: Labour councillor faces poll spending inquiry

SPENDING by a Yorkshire councillor during the last local elections is being investigated after complaints that he might have exceeded the permitted campaign budget.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jul 2010, 01:22 BST
Updated 29th Jul 2010, 01:22 BST

Imdad Hussain, the successful Labour candidate in the Heaton ward of Bradford, is facing complaints that he spent more than the 1,100 maximum permitted.

Tory agent Stanley King has questioned the extent of the publicity campaign waged by the Labour Party in the area and its cost.

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He and Bradford councillor Martin Love (Shipley, Green), have

complained to the Electoral Commission.

The sitting Tory councillor in the election for Heaton, Mohammad Masood, lost his seat to Mr Hussain by almost 500 votes.

The leader of Bradford Council, Ian Greenwood, said: "Obviously there has been a complaint and the Electoral Commission will investigate. I look forward to Coun Hussain demonstrating that he has complied with the law.''

Electoral Commission spokeswoman Eleanor Pearch said: "I have considered the issues raised and have taken the decision to treat these matters as a case under review.

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"Our assessment of the information indicated that there was the possibility of a breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and that further inquiries should be made in order to establish the facts.''

Neither Coun Hussain nor his agent Coun Rizwan Malik would comment on the issue.

Related topics:ExclusiveLabourYorkshireBradfordElectoral Commission