BOLTON’S Conservative leader has raised serious questions about how more than 300 names were added to a list of postal voters for the upcoming Crompton by-election.

Cllr David Greenhalgh said he is 'extremely concerned' after seeing a late list of 312 registered postal voters — which he believes were handed to the council ‘en-bloc’ — and are concentrated in a small area of the ward with a high Asian population.

He said it raises questions as to the 'potential coercion' and the 'possibility of undue pressure' being exerted on voters.

And the Bromley Cross Councillor has raised the possibility that postal votes may not be being completed by individual voters.

Labour is hoping to retain the Crompton seat, left vacant by the death of former councillor Sufrana Bashir-Ismail and has selected her sister Bilkis to contest the election.

She will be challenged in the February 11 vote by Tory hopeful Ryan Haslam as well as UKIP candidate Paul Eccles, Lib Dem Garry Veevers and Laura Diggle of the Greens.

Referring to the list of names, Cllr Greenhalgh said: “I have over 20 years’ experience as an election agent at local and general elections, and one would normally expect about 100-150 names per ward on the 'late list', even less at a by-election and these would be spread across the ward relatively evenly.”

He added: “When I saw over 300 names, and all concentrated in just three of the seven polling districts within Crompton ward, areas with a high Asian population, I started to be concerned.

“When I later found out that the majority of the postal vote applications were delivered to the Council en bloc, then it raises some very serious issues — why would over 300 people suddenly decide to vote by post when they all live relatively close to a polling station, and have never registered before?”

Cllr Greenhalgh said this is not an issue of race and pointed out that he is proud of his political record including helping to elect Bolton’s first Asian councillor and leading a party with five Asian candidates at the last local elections.

He said: “This is about fairness and doing things right. When I feel that certain actions may be taking place that undermine our democratic system and call into question the legitimacy of our elections, then I can be silent no longer.

“For those who say I am causing division that is the last thing I want. In fact, if wrong-doing is taking place, I am standing up for those Asian people who may be being coerced or having pressure exerted.”

He has informed Chief Executive Margaret Asquith of his concerns and said he will also raise it at the “highest level” within his own party.

Labour’s deputy leader, Cllr Linda Thomas said her party has been campaigning as normal and that she “doesn’t understand” the point being made by the Tory leader.

She said: “We are concentrating on our Labour postal voters and I think the other parties will be doing the same.

“It is just common sense — we have checked where out support is and have been going back to check that they have registered for a postal vote and we have been doing this all over the ward, not just within the Asian community.

“Of course we are working hard and knocking on a lot of doors — we have a legacy to protect and that is Sufrana.

“Is Cllr Greenhalgh suggesting that something illegal is going on with that? Is he suggesting that one section of the Crompton community shouldn’t be able to vote by post?”

She added: “This is about getting as many people as possible to vote in an election, surely all political parties should want that?”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “The Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer take all allegations of electoral malpractice seriously, however, these are matters for the police to investigate.”

To read Cllr Greenhalgh's statement in its entirety please see today's letters page.