South Wales Central Conservative MS has warned dangerous sectarian voting has “no place in our country” and must be stopped.
Yesterday’s Gorton and Denton by-election was won by the Green Party after they fought a sectarian campaign.
According to the 2021 Census, Muslim voters make up 30% of the constituency’s electorate.
Several serious allegations emerged during the campaign, with election observers raising concerns of extremely high levels of “family voting”.
This illegal practice involves a family member deliberately influencing how another person votes, such as by entering the polling booth with them.
The successful Green candidate also produced campaign material in Urdu and Bangla.
Mr Davies warned that although sectarian voting has now come to wider attention, the practice is nothing new. He said parties such as Plaid Cymru separatists also engage in it.
Sectarian voting campaign “The Muslim Vote” endorsed several Plaid Cymru candidates at the last general election.
Brandon Ham, Plaid Cymru separatist candidate for Newport West and Islwyn, promoted The Muslim Vote’s endorsement of his candidacy on social media.
Mr Davies said:
While sectarian voting has come to national attention following the Gorton and Denton by-election, it is nothing new.
Parties like Plaid Cymru separatists and the Greens have long attempted to campaign on sectarian lines.
This is a dangerous practice and there is no place for it in our country.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The original articles can be found on the BBC and The Guardian.
- Brandon Ham’s social media post.
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