“The individual has been suspended pending the outcome of any police investigation.”
Local election Labour council candidate, Quesir Mahmood, has been released without charge, after being arrested on April 27, 2015 over ‘suspicion of electoral fraud and integrity issues’.
Mahmood, 38, a project manager for pharmaceutical company MSD UK Ltd, was standing for Wensley Fold ward in Blackburn with Darwen Council.
After being questioned by the Lancashire police for seven hours, he was initially released on bail until June 4, 2015.
A Lancashire police spokesperson confirmed postal voting was at the heart of the matter.
In light of Mahmood’s arrest, the Labour Party North West announced his suspension.
The party’s spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes adherence to the Electoral Commission’s code of conduct very seriously.
“The individual has been suspended pending the outcome of any police investigation.”
Despite his suspension, Mahmood will remain Labour’s candidate for its North West constituency as amendments to submitted nominations will no longer be accepted.
Should he win, the father of four will remain an independent councillor until the matter is resolved following police investigations.
Mahmood is an Applied Sciences graduate at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has been working as a project manager at MSD UK Ltd and is part of the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.
His profile on Blackburn Labour Party’s website reads: “Having grown up in the Wensley Fold area, I have a real passion to give something back to the community.
“I already know a lot of people in Wensley Fold and have a good understanding of the needs of the whole community.”
In the run up to the General Election, this case forms a dark cloud over Labour’s hopes of securing vital seats in the Blackburn region.
Although Mahmood is fighting a local council election and not a seat in Westminster, what effect will this case have for the 159 Asian parliamentary candidates as voters go to the polls on May 7, 2015?
UPDATED on April 30, 2015: Quesir Mahmood has been released by the police without charge, as investigations reveal no criminal offences have been committed.
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