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No action over vote fraud claims No action over vote fraud claims
(10 minutes later)
Police will take no further action over a Conservative Shropshire MP's claims that Labour members were "manipulating postal votes" in his constituency. Police will take no further action over a Shropshire Conservative MP's claims that Labour members were "manipulating postal votes" in his constituency.
Daniel Kawczynski made the allegations using parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons last month. Daniel Kawczynski made the allegations in the House of Commons last month using parliamentary privilege.
The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham also repeated claims of fraud about Labour's candidate for the seat, John Tandy.The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham also repeated claims of fraud about Labour's candidate for the seat, John Tandy.
West Mercia Police said it was no longer investigating the allegations, which Mr Tandy has always denied.West Mercia Police said it was no longer investigating the allegations, which Mr Tandy has always denied.
Mr Tandy, who works in the Shrewsbury sorting office, said the police had told him on Wednesday they had halted the investigation because the allegations were contained in unsigned letters.Mr Tandy, who works in the Shrewsbury sorting office, said the police had told him on Wednesday they had halted the investigation because the allegations were contained in unsigned letters.
'Check your facts''Check your facts'
He said Royal Mail security measures meant it was very difficult for workers to engage in electoral fraud and criticised Mr Kawczynski for making the claims in public.He said Royal Mail security measures meant it was very difficult for workers to engage in electoral fraud and criticised Mr Kawczynski for making the claims in public.
"You must check your facts before you go forward and make things public, even in the House of Commons," he said."You must check your facts before you go forward and make things public, even in the House of Commons," he said.
MPs cannot be sued for anything they say in Parliament.MPs cannot be sued for anything they say in Parliament.
Mr Kawczynski said: "I have done my duty in raising these matters.
"Sometimes MPs have to raise difficult controversial issues.
"The government is very keen we engage people to use postal votes and we need to have confidence in the system. That is why I raised it."
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "Historic allegations of interference with postal votes at Shrewsbury sorting office have been examined by officers from West Mercia Constabulary's economic crime unit.A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "Historic allegations of interference with postal votes at Shrewsbury sorting office have been examined by officers from West Mercia Constabulary's economic crime unit.
"The investigation has established that anonymous letters were sent and received by individuals in the Shrewsbury area in the run-up to the last general election and local council elections."The investigation has established that anonymous letters were sent and received by individuals in the Shrewsbury area in the run-up to the last general election and local council elections.
"However, no offences have been disclosed and no further action is being taken by police in relation to this matter.""However, no offences have been disclosed and no further action is being taken by police in relation to this matter."