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Labour apologise to Wallasey election candidate over 'misleading' leaflet

12:55pm Thursday 9th December 2010 in News By Geoff Barnes

Leah Fraser Leah Fraser

Ex-Conservative parliamentary candidate Leah Fraser has won an apology from labour for misleading claims in a leaflet issued before the last General Election.

Cllr Darren Dodd has also paid the £3,500 legal costs of the former Wirral councillor.

In a leaflet distributed by the Labour Party in the Wallasey constituency, it was claimed that Leah Fraser was a supporter of fox hunting and saw this as a priority, over all other issues, including the economy.

Leah Fraser said: “This was completely untrue. It followed repeated claims on other issues – such as the future of sure start and the winter fuel payments – and that’s why I decided to act.

“Anyone who goes into politics expects some ‘rough and tumble’ but to basically make up claims about your opponent crosses the line and Cllr Dodd’s solicitors recognised that. "I believe my views were distorted in order to give Labour electoral advantage.

“The electorate has a right to know the views and opinions of candidates asking for their vote. Labour’s campaign in Wallasey misled the electorate over this issue and I am pleased that they have finally apologised to me.”

In his letter to Leah Fraser, Cllr Dodd said: “We accept that this was a completely unfounded submission.

"To imply that you would campaign for repeal of the fox hunting ban was both misleading and highly offensive and we can only hope that you will accept our sincere and unreserved apologies.

“We solemnly undertake not to repeat the aforementioned defamatory statements or make any further statements whether in print, electronic form or otherwise of this nature in the future.”

As part of the settlement, the Labour Party will also print a statement retracting their remarks in a leaflet to be delivered in the constituency.

Wirral Labour group deputy leader Cllr Phil Davies said: "This has been dealt with by Labour Party lawyers nationally and I have no further comment to make."

Comments(5)

Wirralrob says...
3:28pm Thu 9 Dec 10

Will she give the money back when she does a U turn, like Dave keeps doin?

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pcs1980 says...
4:09pm Thu 9 Dec 10

Who really won anything in this case?
The only people who gained in this case was the solicitor's.

Would Leah Fraser have pursued this had she won at the elections?
Don't forget she lost her council seat (not for the first time) & lost her attempt to become MP (again not for the first time).

Does anyone really think that she lost the local & general election based on this "unfounded submission".

It is highly unlikely anyone round here would have cared about fox hunting when they had more important things to worry about, like the economy, the recession, unemployment, the list goes on.

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Wirralrob says...
5:52pm Thu 9 Dec 10

Foxhunting? Nah. It was her war on Wallasey Village's Lidl that was won it for me.

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robiin says...
8:33pm Fri 10 Dec 10

As someone who campaigns against fox hunting and is a hunt monitor, I KNOW that Leah Fraser is NOT pro hunting and never has been so how this has happened I do not know. Leah and her colleague, Cllr Ian Lewis, may be Tories but, thankfully, they are both against the barbaric act of hunting as is Tory MP for Wirral West Esther McVey. They are in a minority of Tories who have this view but we should be thankful they have the morals and ethics to make their views known and stand up against this animal abuse. I have campaigned,against hunting and demoe'd and protested at the Tory Party Conference re this issue as we all know that the majority of Tories would tow the party line and vote for the hunting act to be repealed but give Leah her due, she has NEVER been pro hunt and has stated she would NOT vote for a repeal. I am not a Tory voter and never will be but I have to speak up for Leah on this. She has concern for animal issues and I know this from personal experience of her. As for the person above who speaks for us all (!!!) and thinks this issue is of no concern for people around here, think again!! Illegal hunting is taking place in areas not too far from here and many people are against hunting as past and present polls show, so this issue IS an important one so do not speak for me!!

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MX says...
1:04pm Sat 11 Dec 10

How low can you go?.
A Labour Councillor makes "completely unfounded allegations" and we get a "no further comment" from the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.
If only there were "no further comment" from Cllr.Davies full stop.

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