No evidence of 'family voting' in Gorton and Denton by-election

There was "no evidence" of illegal "family voting" or voter coercion at the Gorton and Denton by-election, police have concluded after an investigation.

Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, reported allegations of "family voting" after the poll last month to Greater Manchester Police and the Electoral Commission.

Family voting is where a family member is seen to be influencing somebody else's vote, for example by entering the polling booth with them.

GMP said there was "no evidence to suggest any intent to influence or refrain a person from voting as stated in the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023".

Following the by-election on 26 February - where Green Party MP Hannah Spencer won the Labour stronghold seat -Farage said there were reports by independent election observers of "extremely high" levels of family voting.

Returning Officer Tom Stannard said he welcomed the conclusion of the criminal investigation, adding: "We are confident that the allegations are not substantiated, and that the integrity of the by-election was not affected.

He said the claims had been made public "just minutes after the polls had closed" and "by contrast, it was 11 days before the observer's specific claims were shared with us".

"If observers had concerns they should have raised them with polling station staff immediately.

"It is unfortunate that did not happen in this case."