UKIP Candidate Missed Off Ballot Papers

Darlington Council is under fire for leaving off the name of the UKIP candidate on a number of the ballot papers.

David Hodgson was missing from 89 ballot papers in the Harrowgate Hill ward of Darlington and was only made aware of the considerable oversight when people contacted the central party to alert them.

In a statement Darlington Borough Council said the error had only affected a small proportion of voters at one polling station and that elections would be going on as normal regardless of the error.

The council said they had taken advice from the Electoral Commission and the election would carry on as normal.

Mr Hodgson said the Labour run Council had “serious questions to answer”

Darlington Council confirms that UKIP was missing from a number of ballot papers in the constituency.

— UKIP North East (@UKIPNorthEast) May 7, 2015

“Whilst the error was rectified after a number of people contacted UKIP to complain that my name was not on the ballot paper. There are serious questions to answer at the Council.

“How can this have happened? Who is going to take responsibility? And what will be done to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again and no candidate ever finds themselves removed from the ballot paper in future.

“What is particularly galling is that Darlington Council is not prepared to take responsibility nor offer an apology,” he added.

UKIP officials are waiting until the results of the election to see what action they will be taking.