Police question Ruth Davidson over postal votes

Scottish Tory Party leader Ruth Davidson was yesterday interviewed by police over allegations Better Together campaigners counted postal votes before the referendum ballots closed – breaching electoral secrecy laws

Ruth Davidson was interviewed over allegations Better Together counted postal votes early. Picture: Neil Hanna

A formal police probe was launched six days ago after Ms Davidson claimed during a TV debate that postal vote “tallies” were being taken in the weeks before ballots closed.

Tory Party sources said the interview was conducted on the basis of her being a witness and that Ms Davidson is not the subject of the investigation – adding there was “no suggestion she was accused of doing anything wrong.”

TV coverage of the referendum night shows Ms Davdison saying Better Together had been encouraged by results from a “sample opening” of postal ballots that had taken place in the weeks before September 18.