A CLOSE eye will be kept on Bradford as the General Election approaches, to stamp out any attempts to rig the votes, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission has told a local MP.

The district is one of 17 areas flagged as needing attention following attempts to fix the result in the Bradford West constituency, Shipley MP Philip Davies was told.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Davies asked what measures were in place to ensure a “free and fair” election.

He said: “Will the Electoral Commission be keeping a particularly close eye on Bradford West at the forthcoming general election to make sure no sharp practices are employed?”

In 2005 in Bradford postal votes were rigged in the run-up to the election as part of a failed attempt to manipulate the result.

Gary Streeter, Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission, said measures were in place across the district, with “special attention by the Electoral Commission and the Police Force.”