Two Tory candidates arrested

TWO Conservative candidates standing for election to a Yorkshire council have been arrested on suspicion of electoral fraud.

David Ginley and Mohammed Rashid were questioned on Monday by police investigating claims of illegal voting in the run-up to next month's Calderdale Council elections.

Mr Ginley, who was ordered to do 180-hours' community work in 2002 after admitting two forgery charges, said the arrests were due to a misunderstanding over the collection of proxy vote forms.

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"A woman who had signed a proxy form in a previous week changed her mind and rescinded it," Mr Ginley said. "That's all there is to it. I will still be standing for election and I will carry on campaigning."

Both were released on police bail while inquiries continue.

Mr Ginley, 60, is seeking re-election in the Warley ward, against Labour's Rod Sutcliffe, Lib Dem Ashley Evans, the BNP's Paul Wadsworth and independent candidate Kelly Catlow.

Mr Rashid, 39, is fighting the Park seat against Labour and the Lib Dems.