KEMI BADENOCH BLASTS COUNCIL FOR 'FORGETTING' TO SEND OUT POSTAL VOTES

Kemi Badenoch blasted her local council today for having 'potentially disenfranchised' thousands of postal voters who did not receive their ballot papers.

The Business Secretary hit out at Uttlesford District Council for 'forgetting' to send postal votes to 2,600 people in her North West Essex seat.

Mr Badenoch, who is facing a tight contest in her constituency, claimed the council's leadership were 'unable to carry out basic functions competently'.

Peter Holt, the council's chief executive, has admitted a close result on election night could be challenged if a large proportion of postal votes are not returned.

This has led to speculation it could thwart any bid by Ms Badenoch to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader in the coming weeks.

Posting on X - formerly known as Twitter - this afternoon, Ms Badenoch said: 'Five years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out.

'People wanted 'Change'. Instead, they got 'Change for the WORSE', electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.

'The community is now saddled with a council leadership unable to carry out basic functions competently…

'Now they've potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers.'

A 'mortified' Mr Holt last week apologised for the error and said the council was delivering postal ballots by hand in a bid to resolve the matter.

If Ms Badenoch wins her seat by a narrow margin, Labour could challenge the result and demand a re-run.

This could result in a by-election, with Ms Badenoch not considered an MP until its conclusion and therefore prevented from running in a Tory leadership race.

Ms Badenoch is currently the bookies' favourite to replace Mr Sunak should - as widely expected - he lead the Conservatives to defeat.

Having won a 27,594 majority in Saffron Walden in 2019, she is fighting for re-election in the redrawn North West Essex seat.

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2024-07-04T16:13:03Z dg43tfdfdgfd