HC Deb 23 May 1949 vol 465 c892
57. Mr. Molson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the election of a new alderman of the Derbyshire County Council; whether, as councillors who have already been elected aldermen are not entitled to vote at a subsequent election for an alderman, he proposes to take action under Section 50 of the Representation of the People Act, 1948.

Mr. Younger

My right hon. Friend has no information about this election, but if the suggestion is that it was irregular, the proper way to question it is by an election petition.

Mr. Molson

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Socialist majority elected so many Socialist aldermen, that they were deprived of their majority for the time being on the council, and that in order to fill the only vacancy all those who had already been elected aldermen voted, having carefully abstained from accepting office until they had carried out this gerrymandering at the election?

Mr. Younger

If those really are the facts it is open to any elector to take the necessary proceedings by way of petition.