LABOUR politicians have called for an investigation into controversial events on polling day at the end of a vitriolic by-election campaign in West Craven.

They claim electoral law was twice breached by the Liberal Democrats: the first time when orange coloured 'ballot boxes' for a petition were placed outside three polling stations and later at the count itself when voting papers which had fallen on the floor were picked up by the Deputy Leader of Pendle Council, Liberal Tony Greaves.

But the victorious Lib Dem camp says the complaint is childish and pathetic; sour grapes because they held the seats with increased majorities. They want to know chapter and verse on which law is alleged to have been broken.

Labour party election agent John Edwards has asked Pendle's returning officer, chief executive Stephen Barnes to launch the enquiry.

He said the conduct of Liberal Democrat workers during by-election was wholly unacceptable.

Said Mr Edwards: "The boxes in Coates ward at Barnoldswick were marked 'Fire Engine Petition' and were there ostensibly for the return of the Liberal Democrats' misleading by-election petition which they had circulated as part of their candidate's election misinformation in respect of the town's future fire cover.

"They did not bear the imprint of any publisher or printer and their positioning was, in my opinion, clearly intended to influence voters approaching and entering the polling stations and was in clear contravention of the spirit of the law covering elections.

"At the count ballot papers spilled onto the floor as one of the Coates Ward ballot boxes was being emptied.

"Despite protests, Councillor Greaves picked up the papers in contravention of the instructions which apply to all observers."

Councillor Greaves said the Liberal Democrat campaign was perfectly legal and legitimate.

He said: "You can do anything you want outside a polling station on polling day: the petition was part of our campaign. The wording was handwritten and didn't need an imprint.

"As for picking up two ballot papers in full view of everyone, it is unbelievably childish."

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