No evidence of 'family voting' in Gorton and Denton by-election

There was "no evidence" of "family voting" or voter coercion at the Gorton and Denton by-election, police have concluded after an investigation. Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, reported allegations of the illegal practice after the poll last month to Greater Manchester Police and the Electoral Commission. Family voting is where a family member is seen to be influencing somebody else's vote, for example by entering the polling booth with them. GMP said there was "no evidence to suggest any intent to influence or refrain a person from voting as stated in the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023" but Farage called it an "establishment whitewash". He hit out at GMP's decision to close the probe, adding: "This isn't good enough. "We need proper oversight, real accountability and the courage to admit when something isn't right, not another brushed-under-the-carpet report from the usual suspects." Following the by-election on 26 February - where Green Party MP Hannah Spencer won the Labour stronghold seat - Farage said there were reports by independent election observers, Democracy Volunteers, of "extremely high" levels of family voting. A Green Party source told the BBC it was an attempt by Reform to