What is family voting? Reform contacts police over Gorton and Denton by-election

‘The statutory electoral observer Code of Practice says that electoral observers may bring potential irregularities,fraud or significant problems to the attention of elected officials on the spot.

‘We provide advice and guidance to Returning Officers which supports their training of electoral staff and is available to staff in polling stations to guide decision making on polling day.’

How have the parties reacted to the claims?

The Prime Minister’s spokesman from Downing Street commented on the allegations: ‘The law is the law,and it’s essential that electors can cast their votes in secret without any risk of coercion.

‘Obviously,if anyone has witnessed coercion,they should discuss that matter with their local elections team or the police.’

A dog is walked past a polling station sign in Denton West during the Gorton And Denton by-election (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said the report was ‘extremely worrying and concerning,’ Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said it raised ‘questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas,’ and Green Party leader Zack Polanski suggested he would back a probe into the issue.

Labour chair Ms Turley told BBC Newsnight of the family voting concerns: ‘That’s not what we want to see in our democracy.

‘So obviously we need to see the evidence and the report,and then make due decision about what authorities should look into this.”

Mr Polanski told the programme: ‘If the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps then yes I’d support that.’

Reform UK’s candidate Matt Goodwin said he was ‘deeply concerned about the extent to which the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election is a free,fair,and democratic election’.

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