Worcestershire Reform UK candidate hands petition to High Court
It's after May's County Council election
A Reform candidate in Worcestershire is fighting to change a result in May's County Council election that she claims was "fraudulent".
Elizabeth Williams and Green Hannah Robson both received 889 votes - but Williams ultimately lost the contest for the Littletons division.
She's handed a petition to the High Court.
The winning candidate was selected after two folded election ballot papers were placed into a ballot box and the Deputy Returning Officer pulled one out.
Williams argues that this process left it open to fraud and corruption - and believes it was not carried out in accordance with the due process of law.
At a hearing yesterday, a judge ordered claims against two people to be struck out - and for Williams to cover their legal costs.
West Mercia Police says an investigation found that no criminal offences had taken place.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "The Returning Officer, who is the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance at Worcestershire County Council, nominated and appointed named officers from Wychavon District Council as their deputies for all matters relating to the election of County Councillors in each electoral division within the Wychavon District area.
"The Chief Executive of Worcestershire County Council was originally named as the fifth respondent in the petition.
"At a hearing yesterday, the judge ordered their removal as a respondent.
"The petitioner was also ordered to cover the Chief Executive’s legal costs."
Meesha Patel, Director of Legal and Governance for Wychavon District Council, said: “We are confident the election was delivered substantially within the law and we will present our case to the court at a future date.”
Whilst West Mercia Police added: "We can confirm that an investigation by West Mercia Police took place and found that no criminal offences had taken place.
"Should anything else come to light which might require a police response, we will investigate appropriately.
We have also contacted Reform UK for a response.