Councillor who voted twice ‘should resign’
ACOUNCILLOR who voted twice in his local elections has come under renewed pressure to step down.
Coun Faisal Rana accepted a police caution after admitting electoral fraud in August, although he said he made ‘a genuine mistake’ and ‘misinterpreted’ the rules.
Tonight (Wednesday, October 17), a motion will be made for the Labour member for Spotland and Falinge to resign.
At a full council meeting, Coun Ashley Dearnley, leader of the Conservative group at Rochdale council, will move for him to step down, seconded by Coun Michael Holly, Conservative member for Norden.
In the council motion, Coun Dearnley said: “The communities of Rochdale deserve to have confidence in our democratic processes.
“In light of his recent acceptance of a police caution relating to an electoral offence, and the consequential damage caused to public confidence in local democracy, this council calls upon Coun Faisal Rana to consider his position as an elected member of this authority.”
Coun Rana, who owns multiple properties, was registered in Spotland and Falinge and also in Norden.
Although the wards are in different parliamentary constituencies - Spotland and Falinge in Rochdale and Norden in Heywood and Middleton - they are both part of the Rochdale council area.
According to Electoral Commission rules, it is permitted to vote twice if you are registered in two different local authority areas - once for each. However it is not allowed to vote twice in the same local council poll, which is what Coun Rana did.
He got 56 per cent of the vote in Spotland and Falinge and was made assistant finance portfolio holder, although when what he had done was revealed, he ‘stepped away’ from his cabinet responsibilities.
At the time, Coun Rana said: “I did not realise this was an offence and misinterpreted the rule that says it is possible to vote in two different electoral areas.”
He apologised for his ‘genuine mistake’ and ‘oversight’ and added: “I now want to put this behind me and concentrate fully on serving the people in my ward to the absolute best of my ability.”
When contacted by the Observer about the motion, Coun Rana declined to comment.