Odd occurances (11)...

As if the Labour Party didn't have enough problems: Labour ballot box 'tampered with' [BBC] The by-elecion, in South East London (Erith and Thamesmead) is taking place because the current MP John Austin is retiring (Great timing John) Before this tampering episode he himself had already lodged one formal complaint with the party's general secretary because campaigners had been overly enthusiastic in encouraging local members to sign up for postal votes...you can imgine this replicated over the whole UK, a dodgy super-high postal vote is becoming about the only way the corrupted à la banana republic, sleaze-ridden Labour Party could have a success in the next General Election. Interestingly in this super-safe (one presumes!) Labour seat - majority or ten thousand or more - the candidates "include Georgia Gould, the 22-year-old daughter of Lord Gould, a key aide to Tony Blair during his time as prime minister." Perhaps another look needs to be taken at the 'shock' Labour hold of Glenrothes where...

"...some areas where the votes were being counted and collated were obscured from view. ...[The Electoral Commission] also voiced concern over aspects of the arrangements for postal voting."

And there's more: (Yorkshire Post) "One of Yorkshire's best known Labour members has launched a ferocious attack on the party and Gordon Brown"... "Alice Mahon, a Halifax MP for 18 years and a party member for more than 50 years, has resigned her membership of the party saying she can no longer stomach how it operates". h/t Guido.

Update 7pm (BST) In Message 230 on Guidos' blogpost Susan Stevens says - regarding another reason for Alice Mahon's resigning her party membership - "the method of selection of the Calder Valley Labour candidate last week. This is Cherie Blair’s step-mum, Steph Booth, who won with a majority from a large number of postal votes against another woman who had a majority of those present at the meeting." My emphasis.

The pattern is clear...any investigative journalists up to it?

Update 9pm (BST) Well it shouldn't be difficult to find something: The Halifax Courier says: "She was chosen in favour of the Mayor of Hebden Royd, Sue Press, at a packed meeting of Party members in Mytholmroyd Bowling Club last night." Clearly giving the impression that the packed meeting voted for Booth, except that they didn't: the Yorkshire Post tells us that Mrs Booth won by an almost 2-1 majority, 95-52 but of the 95 cast for Booth 73 were postal votes and for Susan Press only 17 were postal votes. h/t John BM