Labour accuse Conservatives of misleading voters in Ponteland election

Labour had criticised the Tories for their campaign literature in a by-election for Ponteland Town Council.

It was claimed that some Conservative leaflets were meant to look like they were produced by the town council rather than the party, while others were coloured “Labour red” as opposed to traditional Tory blue.

Another of the Conservative Party leaflets for the Ponteland by-election (Image: Supplied)

The by-election for the Ponteland East ward will be held on Thursday, February 8 following the sudden death of town councillor and former Ponteland mayor Alan Varley. The seat on the council will be contested by Michael Clarke of the Labour Party and Rosie Hanlon of the Conservative Party.

Currently, the town council is made up of 10 Conservative councillors and one independent.

Labour described the leaflets as “misleading”, but Northumberland County Council has stated they do not believe any rules have been breached.

A Conservative Party leaflet for the Ponteland by-election (Image: Supplied)

A county council spokesman said: “The Returning Officer does not consider any electoral offences have been committed.”

John Hanley, the chairman of the Hexham Constituency Labour Party (CLP) said he had spoken to the council and while he accepted the leaflets were legal, he was concerned about the impact on local politics.

Mr Hanley said: “We became aware that the Conservative candidate had distributed some misleading leaflets about the Labour position on some key local issues like the housing crisis and greenbelt as well as a red leaflet which could easily be confused for a Labour leaflet.

Part of the Conservative Party's leaflet (Image: Supplied)

“I spoke to the elections office at Northumberland County Council yesterday. They confirmed that the leaflets were legal and there was no breach of election regulations. It looks like the Conservatives have used their knowledge of the rules and regulations to distribute misleading material. It is misleading but it is legal.

“This type of thing puts people off getting involved in local politics. Perhaps the rules about misleading material and how that is defined, should be looked at? We hope the voters in Ponteland will see through all this.”

Responding to the concerns raised by Labour, Northumberland Conservatives Party chairman Richard Wearmouth dismissed the concerns.

He said: “It’s a bit weird that Labour are running around talking to the BBC and local papers about the colour of a leaflet which literally says ‘Vote Conservative’ and ‘from your Conservative candidate’ on it.

“It is clear to me that Labour simply have nothing to say of any interest in local elections in Northumberland and so they bleat on about this nonsense. Meanwhile we have been promoting our positive message promising to preserve our greenbelt and deal with the issues that matter to Ponteland residents.”

The polling station for the by-election will be at Ponteland Schools and Leisure Centre on Callerton Lane. Polls open at 7am on Thursday and close at 10pm.