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Original poster

AIBU to think this is electoral fraud?

106 replies

CatPancake · 02/06/2024 12:26

I’m outing myself here… but my local MP candidate has released new election graphics….

would you be shocked if I told you he’s not a member of the Labour Party!!!

Have a guess which Party he is campaigning on behalf of please 🙏🏻

AIBU to think this is electoral fraud?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:40

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/06/2024 12:38

He apparently said on social media that many Labour voters have told him they will vote for him to keep him as their local MP, so he's launching a new group of supporters, Labour for Largan. Ditto Reform votes, hence Reform for Robert. Desperate stuff. I wonder if he will still be the Tory Party candidate come Friday, which I think is the deadline for registering as a candidate for the General Election.

Yes, I did wonder if that's how he'd get round it.
It's certainly giving him publicity!

Original poster
CatPancake · 02/06/2024 12:39

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:33

Call me dense, but regardless of whether it's electoral fraud I just don't get what the point of this is if he isn't a Labour candidate

What's the advantage?

If someone was being cynical, and if that someone believed a candidate had a low opinion of his electorate… it’s possible to think a candidate could try to encourage people to believe he is being endorsed by, or even represents, a different political party than his own.

especially when Largans party is so wildly unpopular

OP posts:
Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:39

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:37

Oh I see - but surely that won't work as the ballot paper will still clearly list him as the Conservative candidate?

Unless I'm not the only one who's being dense I suppose ...

Show quote history

You're not dense!
The bloke is a chancer.
His materials will be investigated but I shouldn't think it'll have a huge impact, but it is deception.

IClaudine · 02/06/2024 12:39

He may not have committed an offence, but it's very underhand.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/06/2024 12:38

He apparently said on social media that many Labour voters have told him they will vote for him to keep him as their local MP, so he's launching a new group of supporters, Labour for Largan. Ditto Reform votes, hence Reform for Robert. Desperate stuff. I wonder if he will still be the Tory Party candidate come Friday, which I think is the deadline for registering as a candidate for the General Election.

W0tnow · 02/06/2024 12:38

Oh. Snap.

Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:38

I know exactly what electoral fraud is, @CatPancake - I worked in politics for years.
It's not that you're wrong, it's not exactly electoral fraud as such, more election fraud if that makes sense.
Either way he's an idiot and it's deception.

W0tnow · 02/06/2024 12:38

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:33

Call me dense, but regardless of whether it's electoral fraud I just don't get what the point of this is if he isn't a Labour candidate

What's the advantage?

So people will look for his name on the ballot paper and vote for him thinking they are voting for a labour candidate? But will in fact be voting Tory? 🤔 That’s my guess? Seems a bit convoluted to me. Surely it’s clear on the ballot pairs which party candidates belong to?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:37

Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:36

Labour voters will vote for him, falsely believing him to be the candidate.

Show quote history

Oh I see - but surely that won't work as the ballot paper will still clearly list him as the Conservative candidate?

Unless I'm not the only one who's being dense I suppose ...

OnceICaughtACold · 02/06/2024 12:37

I’m not convinced it’ll meet the bar of electoral fraud, but it absolutely is dishonest and underhand.

haddockfortea · 02/06/2024 12:36

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:33

Call me dense, but regardless of whether it's electoral fraud I just don't get what the point of this is if he isn't a Labour candidate

What's the advantage?

People remember his name in association with their party, and look for it on the polling card. They then vote for the name of the person they think is their candidate.

Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:36

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:33

Call me dense, but regardless of whether it's electoral fraud I just don't get what the point of this is if he isn't a Labour candidate

What's the advantage?

Labour voters will vote for him, falsely believing him to be the candidate.

Original poster
CatPancake · 02/06/2024 12:35

Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:30

That's not what electoral fraud is.

Your vote belongs to you. It doesn’t belong to anyone who intimidates you, or tries to bribe you, or anyone pretending to be you.
When someone deliberately tries to cheat at an election in this way, it could be electoral fraud.

Electoral fraud can include:

  • making false statements about the personal character of a candidate
  • offering an incentive to someone to get them to vote, to vote a certain way, or to stop them from voting
  • interfering with postal votes
  • including false statements or signatures on a candidate’s nomination forms
  • registering to vote under a false name or without someone’s consent
  • influencing someone to vote against their will
  • pretending to be someone else and using their vote

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/report-electoral-fraud

Report electoral fraud

Your vote is yours alone. Find out about electoral fraud and how to report it.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/report-electoral-fraud

OP posts:
blacksax · 02/06/2024 12:35

He is going to look like a dishonest twit.

Going to? He's a Tory. He already does.

AnotherexhaustedSENmum · 02/06/2024 12:35

Do you think they might wear red rosettes on election night and pretend that they are crying for joy ,instead of despair about losing their job?

Surely identifying as Labour is crazy wokery?

CassandraWebb · 02/06/2024 12:35

I am glad it is being investigated that is astonishingly brazen

JudgeJ · 02/06/2024 12:34

AnotherexhaustedSENmum · 02/06/2024 12:32

Well if it is fraud it must be Conservative since they repeatedly get away with this sort of thing.

This is surely going to backfire? He is going to look like a dishonest twit.

Bless your naivity!

fruitgummy · 02/06/2024 12:34

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/06/2024 12:33

Call me dense, but regardless of whether it's electoral fraud I just don't get what the point of this is if he isn't a Labour candidate

What's the advantage?

haddockfortea · 02/06/2024 12:33

I hope he gets his arse kicked for this.

AnotherexhaustedSENmum · 02/06/2024 12:33

Flickersy · 02/06/2024 12:32

It's not electoral fraud. It's misleading and false advertising.

And a really stupid idea 😂

Corinthiana · 02/06/2024 12:32

I think the Conservatives are getting desperate now.
Trying to get Labour votes by trickery!

Flickersy · 02/06/2024 12:32

It's not electoral fraud. It's misleading and false advertising.

AnotherexhaustedSENmum · 02/06/2024 12:32

Well if it is fraud it must be Conservative since they repeatedly get away with this sort of thing.

This is surely going to backfire? He is going to look like a dishonest twit.

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