Labour election candidate Charlotte Nichols is probed by police after she is accused of giving false address in run-up to the vote
- Investigating if Charlotte Nichols gave true home address on nomination form
- She was brought in to the safe seat of Warrington North, Cheshire, from London
- Yesterday there was no answer at door of the £450,000 property in Warrington
Officers are looking into whether Charlotte Nichols, 28, gave her true home address on her nomination form
One of Jeremy Corbyn’s candidates is being investigated by police over ‘a potential breach of electoral law’.
Officers are looking into whether Charlotte Nichols gave her true home address on her nomination form. Miss Nichols, 28, has already ruffled feathers in the safe seat of Warrington North, Cheshire, by being parachuted in from London by the party’s high command.
She pledged that she would buy a house in the constituency – if she won.
On her nomination papers, she claims she already lives there and gave her home address as a house in Warrington.
Yesterday there was no answer at the door of the £450,000 property. The Mail showed a photo of Miss Nichols to one of the neighbours, who said: ‘I have never seen her.’ On the other side, a neighbour said: ‘I haven’t seen her, but there’s always cars coming and going.’ The house belongs to a Labour councillor. Last night Cheshire Police said it had ‘received allegations of a potential breach of electoral law’.
A candidate does not have to live in their prospective constituency, but under the Criminal Administration Act 2006, it is an offence to supply false information to the Electoral Registration Officer. Defendants can be fined or jailed for up to 51 weeks.
Miss Nichols faced a backlash after winning the Labour nomination against local hopefuls, one of whom described her as a ‘Corbyn crony’. Pictured: Jeremy Corbyn talks to a student during a visit to West Nottinghamshire College Construction Centre today
Miss Nichols faced a backlash after winning the Labour nomination against local hopefuls, one of whom described her as a ‘Corbyn crony’.
Last night she denied breaking electoral rules and said that she moved to Warrington on November 7. Police have not spoken to her about the allegations.
Warrington North was held by Labour MP Helen Jones with a majority of 9,582.