LABOUR CANDIDATE SET TO GO TO PRISON

This article in the Guardian tells of how the Labour candidate for Bristol East Kerry McCarthy has twittered the early postal vote numbers.

Police are investigating a possible breach of electoral law after Labour's new media tsar, Kerry McCarthy, revealed postal vote figures on Twitter.

McCarthy, who is defending her Bristol East seat, could face six months in prison or a £5,000 fine after posting the results of some 300 votes to her 5,700 followers.

The Labour MP said she was "kicking herself" over the post, which has now been deleted. Her tweet said: "First PVs opened in east Bristol, our sample: UKIP **; TUSC**; BNP ** Lib Dem **; Tory **; Labour **. £gameON!"

I can't quote the numbers but as the Guardian has repeated the positions I can tell you that the BNP is in 4th place in Bristol East at the moment beating UKIP.

It is illegal to reveal the votes cast before the end of polling day as this may influence the outcome of the election.

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman said candidates who see the front of a ballot paper "must maintain the secrecy of voting".

Publishing the details of a count can lead to a fine or a prison sentence of up to six months, according to section 66A of the Representation of the People Act.

Bristol city council said the incident was an alleged breach of the act and was a "criminal matter".

McCarthy said: "I was pretty silly to do it; it was just thoughtless, I was being over-exuberant."

It certainly looks like she has broken the law and it should carry a prison sentence but will she squirm her way out of it?

VOTE BNP AND END THIS POSTAL VOTING FARCE