A LABOUR boss today called for an inquiry into proxy votes in the Daneshouse area of Burnley after it was revealed that up to a third of the local electorate will register their votes at next week's council elections - without turning up at polling booths.

The record number of proxies - votes cast by a second party on behalf of voters absent from the ward on polling day - means Burnley's most keenly contested ward is already guaranteed a higher turnout than other wards in the town - many of which struggle to get a 25 per cent poll.

In the two-cornered Daneshouse contest, the Liberal Democrats whose candidate Mozaquir Ali is defending the seat, say they alone have more than 900 proxy votes from people who cannot make it to the polls.

Labour, whose candidate is Saeed Akhtar Chaudhary, reckon they have in excess of 300, but the final figure could be much higher in a ward with an electorate of 4,100.

The 1,000 plus proxy total this year is way beyond the average of under 30 in other wards and several times more than the 300 or so often seen in Daneshouse.

Today Daneshouse councillor and Labour deputy council leader Rafique Malik expressed dismay at the high number of proxies. He said: "As far as I am concerned it is a complete violation of the voting system and the secret ballot.

"I cannot believe for the life of me that more than 1,300 people are going to be away on election day."

He added: "We are waiting to hear the final figures from the election officers and then scrutinise the applications very closely.

"We can accept that 300-400 people may be abroad or are students who will be out of town, but 1,300 is just not possible."

Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Birtwistle said he too was surprised by the high number of proxy applications.

"There won't be anyone in the ward to vote. It is an incredible amount," he said.

Daneshouse, has for years had the highest turnouts at local elections in Burnley, with 60 per cent plus polls.

The proxy problem has erupted several times over the years, with the major parties accusing each other of vote-rigging in a ward where, despite the high percentage polls, contests are won by just a handful of votes.

One proven incident involved an application for six proxy votes at a property which had been demolished for three years.

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