Labour candidates in 17 key marginals failed to declare battle buses packed with activists in their election expenses. According to the party’s official General Election Report, Labour Students operated a fleet of four buses “dedicated to supporting marginal seats across the country”. Electoral Commission rules are clear: “a portion of the cost of that bus should be allocated towards the candidate’s spending limit…”

The schedule below shows the buses – known as “Brad’s Bus”, “West Mids Wheels”, “The NUS Bus” and “Woolas’ Wagon” – carried activists to 17 key seats. None of the Labour candidates declared the buses or accommodation costs of putting up activists, as required by law…

New MPs including Cat Smith, Margaret Greenwood and Chris Matheson did not declare these transport costs, despite benefiting directly from campaigners bussed into their constituencies. This is incontrovertible evidence of a widespread failure to declare election expenses across the country. It is the bombshell that explains why Labour did not go after the Tories over their own election fraud. Guido will be handing his evidence over to the police…