The independent candidate who vied to unseat Health Secretary Wes Streeting has challenged Redbridge Council’s electoral services over alleged “irregularities”.
Leanne Mohamad came within 540 votes of beating Labour incumbent Streeting on election night, which saw the party win a landslide majority over the Conservatives.
She had run a campaign that focused on Labour’s response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and disillusionment with the party in Ilford North. A former party member, she had given up her membership after Labour leader Keir Starmer said Israel “had the right” to cut off water to Gaza.
In a statement issued on 22 November, Leanne said she had sent a letter of complaint to the Electoral Commission and Redbridge Council “outlining serious irregularities on the night of the count on 5 July in Ilford North, raising questions regarding compliance with electoral law and guidance”.
She added: “I have retained Bindmans LLP and specialist King’s Counsel on this issue and have asked the Electoral Commission to examine the activities of Redbridge Council.”
A spokesperson for Redbridge Council said it was confident the count had been “accurate, effective and efficient”.
He said: “We are aware that the former candidate has written to the Electoral Commission. We are confident that there was compliance with due process and that an accurate, effective and efficient election count was delivered.”
A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, which regulates elections and their finances, said this week it was “considering the information presented”.
Leanne received 15,119 votes, coming second to Streeting, who won with 15,647. In third place were the Tories, on 9,618 votes.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the election: “We came within 540 votes of defeating a key member of the Labour cabinet. I think that is an achievement – I don’t see it as a loss at all.
“The best thing about it is that nobody expected it at all.”
Redbridge Labour’s victory in the Wanstead Park by-election in November saw its majority drop by hundreds.
Emma Shepherd-Mallinson was elected to the seat with a majority of 585, down from Bayo Alaba’s majority of more than 900 in 2022.
As health secretary, Streeting is responsible for healthcare and the NHS’ performance across the UK.
Bindmans LLP was approached for comment.
