BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg is being heavily criticised, with many people believing that she could have broken election rules, or at least amplified those who have.

Speaking on BBC Politics Live earlier today, Kuenssberg was asked about the state of the election, to which she responded:

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“The postal votes have of course already arrived, the parties are not meant to look at it, but they do kind of get a hint, and on both sides people are telling me the postal votes that are in are looking pretty grim for Labour.”

This is pretty serious stuff. It’s a breach of electoral law for individuals to divulge the results of postal ballots.

The Electoral Commission told Scram News: “Anyone attending a postal vote opening session has a duty to maintain secrecy.

“Anyone attending an opening session must not attempt to see how individual ballot papers have been marked and must not keep a tally of how ballot papers have been marked.”

What’s more, according to the BBC’s own guidelines, it’s “a criminal offence to publish details of how many people have voted in the elections”. However, it’s unclear whether this only applies to polling day itself.

After speaking to the Electoral Commission, LBC producer Ava-Santina tweeted: “The reason broadcasters are not allowed to reveal postal votes before 10PM polling day is it influences the vote. I really have no explanation of how this is allowed under broadcasting code.”

At the very least, this is bad journalism from Kuenssberg, who repeated unverified, one-sided information about postal votes. At the worst, her actions could have amplified people who broke electoral law. At the very worst, she could have broken the rules herself.

The Electoral Commission have since added: “It may be an offence to communicate any information obtained at postal vote opening sessions, including about votes cast, before a poll has closed. Anyone with information to suggest this has happened should report it immediately to the police.”