Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Case for repolling in Hendon?

Ameet Jogia cites postal votes delay for loss

Case for repolling in Hendon?

COMPARED to the 60 per cent turnout in the British general election last week, it was 66.6 per cent in India, where 642 million people out of the eligible electorate of 968 million cast their ballots.

In Britain, polling took place last Thursday (4), whereas in India, voting was held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, because of the size of the country as well as security issues.


Had India encountered the problems that were faced by a constituency such as Hendon in north London, where postal voting forms were not delivered on time, the country’s Election Commission would probably have ordered a repoll.

Ameet Jogia, co-chair of Conservative Friends of India, who lost by 15 votes – the smallest in the country – understandably feels cheated. Jogia, who worked as an aide to Lord Dolar Popat before moving to Downing Street to be an adviser to prime minister Rishi Sunak, got 15,840 votes to Labour’s 15,855 and Reform’s 3,038.

Jogia is now considering taking legal action against Barnet council. He told the Daily Telegraph that he personally knew of around a dozen constituents who had told him they would have voted for him, but their postal ballot papers never arrived.

“There were so many others, too,” he said. “In my case, this would have made a difference. We were robbed. Barnet council has had a repeated issue with postal votes going missing or not arriving. We had it in the mayoral election (in May) when whole streets did not receive them.”

Jogia had even written to the council on May 9, demanding the issue be “rectified before the upcoming general election”.

There does seem to be a case for a repoll. Incidentally, it is worth noting that among the 10 cabinet ministers who lost their seats was the justice secretary, Alex Chalk, who represented Rishi at India’s Republic Day celebrations at London’s Guildhall earlier this year.

More For You

Column: How much longer will Rachel Reeves stay on as chancellor?

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Column: How much longer will Rachel Reeves stay on as chancellor?

THERE are a few Labour MPs who think “Rachel from accounts will be gone sooner than you think”.

She has certainly outdone Liz Truss in trashing the economy, but the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, will be loath to sack Rachel Reeves as chancellor because his own future is tied up with hers.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Himesh Reshammiya's silly quest for acting stardom

Himesh Reshammiya

​Himesh Reshammiya's silly quest for acting stardom

IN THE early 1950s, legendary music icon Mukesh was so desperate to become a leading man that he stopped singing for major movies to focus on making an acting breakthrough.

Decades later, Sonu Nigam also tried his hand at acting by starring in a few films. What these two singing stars had in common was that they both failed as actors and quickly realised when to stop. Both quit acting, concentrated on music, and went on to have incredible singing careers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Reeves set to revise non-doms tax rules

Rachel Reeves

Reeves set to revise non-doms tax rules

ANY day now Rachel Reeves will be sending a “cease and desist” letter to Liz Truss, demanding that the former prime minister stop saying she has “crashed the economy”.

Such “false and defamatory” allegations were harming her political reputation, the chancellor will probably add.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment
Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan

Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

COMIC SINGH IN UK

PUNJABI-language stand-up comedian Manpreet Singh will return to the UK in March for a series of shows at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham (21), The Urban Building in Slough (22), and Chutney Ivy in Leicester (23). Affectionately known as Comic Singh, the top Indian talent promises a performance powered by family-friendly humour. He will follow up the UK tour with his first-ever shows in Germany and Holland in April.

Keep ReadingShow less
Football with Faris: Arsenal see red after shocking dismissal

The Gunners have now been awarded the most red cards this season, and those decisions were fairly debatable as to whether they should’ve stood. (Photo: Getty Images)

Football with Faris: Arsenal see red after shocking dismissal

Faris Gohir

With the Premier League producing yet another controversial refereeing decision, it is about time the PGMOL are held accountable.

Bizarre red card dished out at Molineux

Keep ReadingShow less