Tory alert as ballot paper deadline nears

The Government was warned that Parliament may have to be recalled if tonight's midnight deadline is missed for sending out ballot papers for next week's local and European elections.

More than four million postal voting forms have yet to be sent to the Royal Mail. And local government minister Chris Leslie admitted that only 91 per cent of voting papers had been printed.

The Tories warned of "chaos" and said that Parliament may have to be recalled to pass emergency legislation extending the date for receipt of ballot forms beyond today.