VOTE RIGGING

A Populus opinion poll for the Times today highlights the danger posed to the Tories by their failure to tackle Labour's vote rigging activities.

Despite the economic downturn, Labour still has a lead on its handling of the economy, with 40% trusting Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to fight the recession. This demonstrates the Tory weakness to offer a viable alternative to 12 years of Labour's spendthrift policies with English taxpayers' money.

More importantly, the poll shows that the Tories have an overall lead among voters with 39% support, compared with Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 17%. On these figures, then Labour could well win the next general election.

In a Boundary Commission report entitled Guide to the New Electoral Boundaries [see the English Rights Campaign item dated the 13 March 2006], the commission pointed out that:

'Even on the new boundaries if both of the main parties were on the same percentage of vote - for example 35% - then Labour would have 87 seats more than the Conservatives.'

This is an appalling and completely unacceptable state of affairs.