Overview
- Greater Manchester Police arrested four men and one woman on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and the five remain in custody for questioning.
- The force says the investigation is focused on the process by which candidates were put forward and represented in St Peter’s ward and on whether electoral law and procedures were followed.
- Local reporting claims two purportedly fake independent candidates together won 291 votes, a total larger than the 177‑vote margin by which Labour’s Atta Ul‑Rasool beat a genuine independent.
- The Labour Party has denied any involvement and says no evidence links the party to the allegations while the Electoral Commission confirmed it is providing advice to police.
- If the probe finds wrongdoing it could prompt criminal charges and electoral remedies and police have said they will provide further updates as enquiries progress.