Urgent probe on late delivery of postal vote ballot forms

DELAYS in the delivery of postal ballots for this week’s general election are being “urgently” investigated, a minister said today.

- Rachael Burford and Tom Wilkinson

Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake has criticised Royal Mail for failing to deliver votes in time for Thursday’s poll. He has called on the service to do “all they can” to make sure they get to people in time.

Dozens of constituencies have raised concerns about the problem including those in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Scotland. In London there have been reports that ballots have not arrived for voters in Kensington, Lewisham and Southwark. Health minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News today: “Kevin is taking this very seriously. He’s in direct contact with the Royal Mail.

“It doesn’t seem to be an issue in my constituency, but I know a number of colleagues where people haven’t received their postal votes and are worried about that.