Euro poll challenge 'on course'

THE Liberal Democrats have collected almost 400 sworn statements in support of a petition challenging the Devon and East Plymouth European election result, writes Patricia Wynn Davies.

The High Court challenge, due to be initiated today, will seek to overturn the victory of Giles Chichester, the Tory, who took the seat by 700 votes after 10,203 votes were cast for Richard Huggett, the 'Literal Democrat', who put out no election literature.

Graham Elson, the Liberal Democrat general secretary, said at least 389 affidavits will have been collected by the end of this week from voters claiming they supported Mr Huggett, a retired schoolmaster, by mistake.

The petition is being brought by Adrian Sanders, the defeated Liberal Democrat candidate, and Richard Younger-Ross, an elector, against Frank Palmer, chief executive of South Hams District Council, who was the returning officer.