Police investigating alleged 'electoral malpractice' in Leicestershire PCC poll

On Thursday, helped by my second vote, Labour's Willy Bach was elected as the new police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire.

After the Liberal Democrat and Ukip candidates had been eliminated, he beat his Conservative opponent by 78,188 votes to 58,305.

This represented quite a turnaround on the result in 2012. Then the Conservative Clive Loader (who stood down at this election) won at the second stage by 64,661 votes to Labour's 51,835.

Over the weekend there was gossip about irregularities in the postal votes cast. Today's Leicester Mercury quotes a spokeswoman for Leicestershire police:

"We have received an allegation of electoral malpractice which is believed to have taken place during the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. 

"Inquiries are ongoing into the report and we are liaising with the Electoral Commission and the local authority."

The Mercury says this allegation has been made by the Ukip agent, but adds:

An East Midlands Conservative Party spokesman declined to comment but a number of activists left Friday's election count talking about 'anomalies'.