Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has accused Uttlesford DC of ‘potentially' disenfranchising thousands of postal voters.

The potential Tory leadership candidate took to X/Twitter yesterday afternoon accusing the council leadership of being ‘unable to carry out basic functions competently.'

She also said the council had ‘potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers.'

Ms Badenoch won Essex North West by 2,610 votes, down from a majority of 27,594 in her former seat of Saffron Walden.

The council's chief executive, Peter Holt, reportedly admitted that a close election result could be challenged if a large number of postal votes are not returned.