Tories' legal fight after Labour is declared the winner in local election ... trends now
A local election result is set to be decided in court after officials accidentally announced victory for a Labour candidate, who now refuses to step down for the real Tory winner.
Julie Green, a Conservative councillor for the Lancashire town of Nelson, was robbed of her electoral win eight days ago after the name of her Labour rival, Patricia Hannah-Wood, was mistakenly read out.
Officials quickly realised their error and apologised – but a legal quirk meant the declaration could not be changed. And instead of acknowledging the mistake and standing down, Ms Hannah-Wood celebrated her fake victory.
Now only a legal challenge can reverse the result, which Tories say will take up to six months and cost local taxpayers more than £10,000.
'You can't make these things up. I am flabbergasted,' said Mrs Green. 'It's not democracy when somebody steals your seat. I can't understand why somebody would behave so immorally. If you know you've lost, you have to accept it.'
A local election result is set to be decided in court after officials accidentally announced victory for a Labour candidate, who now refuses to step down for the real Tory winner
Julie Green, a Conservative councillor for the Lancashire town of Nelson, was robbed of her electoral win eight days ago after the name of her Labour rival, Patricia Hannah-Wood, was mistakenly read out
Tory councillor Kieran McGladdery who witnessed the bungled announcement, said: 'It was an extremely unfortunate mistake caused by fatigue and tiredness.
