THE Government has defied its advisers and ignored widespread concern about electoral fraud by pressing ahead with plans for all-postal ballots in the referendums on regional assemblies.

John Prescott introduced new regulations in the Commons yesterday setting out how the ballots would be conducted and setting spending limits for campaigns.

The Times has learnt that, a few days ago, the Electoral Commission advised the Government not to lay the regulations until it had published its evaluation of pilot schemes in the European and local elections, in mid-September.

The disclosure enraged the Tories and the Liberal Democrats, who accused ministers of “railroading” through the legislation and failing to inform MPs about the commission’s advice.

The concern comes after a Times investigation which disclosed widespread allegations of intimidation and fraud in two of the biggest pilot areas — the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. There are six police investigations continuing into alleged fraud.

Commission officials told Nick Raynsford, the Local Government Minister, that MPs should not be expected to vote on the regulations before a proper assessment of the pilot schemes. They also advised Mr Raynsford that further safeguards were needed.

The referendums on directly elected regional assemblies are due this autumn in three of the four areas which participated in the postal trials — the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East.

Sam Younger, the commission’s chairman, confirmed its concerns yesterday. “We re-cognise that the June pilots raised issues around public confidence and appropriate safeguards that will need careful consideration,” he said.

For the Tories, Bernard Jenkin, the Shadow Regions Secretary, said: “Once again the Government has ignored the Electoral Commission’s advice and has denied Parliament a proper chance to scrutinise it in good time.”

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