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Graham Moore came last but says it is ‘impossible’ he got 50 votes
A High Court hearing is anticipated this week after the Runcorn and Helsby by-election result was contested by an unsuccessful candidate.
Graham Moore, representing the English Constitution Party (ECP) in the May 1 election and finishing last with only 50 votes, has claimed that the count did not reflect his expected tally and is calling for the result to be annulled.
The High Court allows individuals to request a judgement through ‘petitioning the court’. Moore has accused Royal Mail of affecting the election outcome by failing to deliver approved campaign leaflets and Cheshire Police of harassing ECP campaigners, alongside alleging police negligence regarding election interference, including the removal of an ECP Wikipedia page.
His petition asserts: “The petitioner challenges the result of the said by-election on the grounds that the vote count was erroneous and/or deliberately fraudulent, compounded by Royal Mail’s interference through non-delivery of pre-approved election communication leaflets, Cheshire Constabulary’s harassment of the ECP campaign, and the police’s failure to investigate election interference, including the removal of an ECP Wikipedia page.”
Mr Moore also questions why his tally was 50 votes despite engaging in interviews on live social media platforms with substantial followings, arguing that “This amount of local social media support does not tally with 50 votes.”
Mr Moore, a resident of Kent, also stated it was ‘impossible’ that he should receive 50 votes twice – having also received exactly 50 votes when he previously stood for election in Tooting in 2016.
The petition further stated: “The probability of receiving exactly 50 votes in two unrelated parliamentary elections, nine years apart, in separate constituencies under councils controlled by mainstream parties – Labour and Conservative – protecting the status quo, is not just strange but impossible.”
It continued: “The interference disproportionately harmed candidates like the petitioner, who paid the £500 deposit to stand, creating a chilling effect on passive democracy by discouraging non- mainstream candidates from participating, as only candidates with greater resources can overcome such obstacles.”
His petition demanded the election be declared void and for an independent recount of every individual ballot at a ‘neutral location’.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: “We are aware of the petition by the English Constitution Party in relation to the recent by-election in Runcorn and Helsby. As this is an ongoing legal matter it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”
The by-election was initiated following the resignation of Labour’s Mike Amesbury after he was jailed for assault, with Reform’s Sarah Pochin winning the vote.
The hearing will take place this Friday by the King’s Bench at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
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