Kent Police have confirmed they are investigating a claim of electoral fraud in South Thanet, the seat Nigel Farage failed to take in the general election. No further details have been released but police say they are making enquiries.
A UKIP spokesman told Breitbart London the party did not know the nature of the allegations and officials were hoping the police might be able to shed some light on the investigation. However, as any member of the public is entitled to make a complaint, political parties are not necessarily aware of the nature of the alleged fraud.
It is extremely rare for allegations of electoral fraud to be directed against losing candidates because anyone losing an election has not benefited from the fraud. Correspondingly, winners do not want to cast doubt on their own victory. Also the parties being accused might well be private individuals with no connections to any party.
Nigel Farage lost the election in South Thanet on Thursday by a margin of 2,812 to the Conservative Craig Mackinlay. Both parties had ploughed huge resources into the seat. The official statement from Kent Police said: “Kent Police has received a report of electoral fraud. Enquiries are ongoing.”