The Electoral Commission has been accused of a "whitewash" after publishing a report that found only "very low levels of proven electoral fraud" at this year's elections in England, despite mounting evidence of family voting and voter intimidation. Critics say the report failed to reference claims first raised by the Daily Mail, including reports that attempts to influence voters were witnessed at 50 polling stations in Birmingham, evidence now being examined by West Midlands Police, as well as concerns about harassment near polling stations in Tower Hamlets.

The commission said staff had intervened to protect ballot secrecy where necessary, and stated that a Greater Manchester Police investigation into alleged family voting at the February Gorton and Denton by-election found no evidence of intent to influence or stop anyone voting. Tory peer Lord Hayward, who sponsored the 2023 Ballot Secrecy Act, accused the watchdog of acting like the "three wise monkeys", while Tory spokeswoman Katie Lam said the report appeared to brush aside serious allegations. The report also found 55% of candidates suffered harassment or abuse, with Reform UK (59%), Labour (54%) and the Greens (43%) reporting the highest rates among their candidates.