Police alerted to 'generous and tasty' pre-election buffet after Corby Reform UK candidate woos residents
Northamptonshire Police are reviewing the circumstances surrounding a free event co-hosted by a Reform UK election candidate in Corby, at which members of the public were supplied with a 'generous and tasty' buffet.
Lee Duffy, who already represents Lloyds ward on Corby Town Council, is Reform UK’s candidate in October 9 election for the vacant Lloyds and Corby Village seat for North Northants Council (NNC).
The by-election for the seat had been triggered by the resignation of Corby Reform UK councillor Robert Bloom after serious racism allegations.
Following the by-election date announcement on September 11, and with Mr Duffy’s campaign in full swing, on September 16, an open-door ‘pilot branch’ meeting for ‘all members and supporters’, was hosted by candidate Duffy and NNC councillors Eddie McDonald (Gretton and Weldon), Graham Cheatley (Kingswood) and David Donnelly (Corby West), at the Evs public house in Cottingham Road.
Residents, who were not branch members, were told they would they would not be invited to subsequent meetings unless they signed to join up. They were also notified of a raffle.
It was Cllr McDonald’s social media post on his ‘Eddie McDonald Reform UK Corby and East Northamptonshire’ page after the event that keen-eyed scrollers noticed a reference to a ‘generous and tasty buffet’ with a a big thank you to Lee Duffy for his kindness for providing the spread.
Cllr McDonald’s post on Thursday, September 18 said: “A big thank you to Cllr Lee Duffy who kindly put on a generous and tasty buffet.”
The trays of food included samosas, sausage rolls, and slices of pork pie, as well as dozens of assorted deep-filled sandwiches.
But 12 days later on Tuesday, September 30, the post had been edited, with the reference to the buffet deleted.
According to guidance published for candidates and agents by the Electoral Commission, those standing for election must not influence any voter to vote by ‘treating’.
The guidance says: “A person is guilty of treating if either before, during or after an election they directly or indirectly give or provide any food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting.
"Treating requires a corrupt intent - it does not apply to ordinary hospitality.”
Any breach of the law is covered by Section 114 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
A spokeswoman for North Northants Council said: "We can confirm that North Northamptonshire Council’s Monitoring Officer has been contacted regarding this matter. “The council’s Monitoring Officer can only consider, and deal with, complaints relating to existing North Northamptonshire Councillors and this does not extend to candidates. “Allegations of a criminal nature, including any complaints about candidate expenditure, sit outside the councillor code of conduct process and are matters to be considered by the Police.”
A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: “We have received a report of electoral fraud in relation to this incident and will be reviewing it to ascertain if any offences have taken place.”
A spokeswoman for The Electoral Commission said: “We’re aware of concerns regarding treating at the Corby Village Ward by-election. As set out in our guidance, ‘treating’ is an offence under electoral law and a matter for the police, rather than the Electoral Commission. Any allegations should be reported directly to the police.”
Mr Duffy and Cllr McDonald have been contacted for a comment.