Liberal Democrat MP Steve Webb has slammed the Conservatives’ election tactics after the party delivered a faked apology letter over a row involving Bradley Stoke Community School.
The note, which at first glance looks as if it was posted from the Lib Dems, claims to say sorry for the party leader apparently blocking any expansion.
The letter, which was even printed on Lib Dem party colour yellow, was actually distributed by the Conservatives.
The Tories want the community school expanded to include a sixth form while the Lib Dems are calling for more places in the secondary intake.
The Conservatives claim any expansion to the school would break an all-party agreement which has limited the school’s intake to protect neighbouring schools in Patchway and Filton.
North Avon MP Webb said, in a letter delivered to Bradley Stoke residents, that “local residents have told me how shocked they are that the Conservatives have put a faked Liberal Democrat leaflet (even on yellow paper) in order to mislead residents”.
He continued: “The best way for the people of Bradley Stoke to show they deplore such tactics is by backing the positive Liberal Democrat campaign.”
Another leaflet from the Tories says: “The recent suggestion of increasing the number of places at the school has been ruled out by the Liberal Democrat council leader, and is not supported by the school.”
8 responses so far ↓
1 Matt Morris // Apr 29, 2007 at 12:01 am
Have to say, I’m getting very bored of this school-kid style election “campaign” - “Miss, he said blah blah, no miss - he said blah blah blah”…
Candidates can we please stop this childish and lazy way of campaigning and actually constructively debate HOW TO IMPROVE THIS TOWN!
2 Anon // Apr 29, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I’m lucky enough to have seen leaflets from both Conservative and Lib Dem candidates this weekend. The Conservative leaflet entitled “how conservatives will improve your quality of life” actually list 8 local policies of which building a sixth form at the school is just one.
The majority of the Lib Dem leaflet however is devoted to attacking the tories over the school and calling for expansion of the number of places pre 16. Which if we are to believe the tories was ruled out just last year by the lib dem themselves. Even if we don’t believe that then we must respect the views of the headmaster which were covered on this site - he clearly supports a sixth form as the preferred expansion option.
Furthermore, as the lib dems have represented bradley stoke for the entire 20years of its existence one has to wonder why they haven’t already implemented their policies? for my mind they are either unworkable in practice or they don’t really want to implement them.
I shall therefore vote tory, keep their leaflet, and at the next election mark them out of 8 for what they deliver.
3 BSE Newsdesk // Apr 29, 2007 at 2:32 pm
In fairness, anon poster, the Tories can hardly be blameless in the tit-for-tat leafleting. Although the Lib Dems’ last leaflet did attack the Tories policies, the Tories did send out a quite nasty ‘faked’ leaflet.
I’m not taking sides - I’m just pointing out that they’ve been as bad as each other.
4 Mark // Apr 30, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Whilst I agree that it is getting a bit’ my dad, your dad’, what none of the Liberal literature has said is why they are only putting up 3 candidates to stand for the town council, from a previous 8, yet they have got 5 standing for South Glos Council
5 Matt // May 1, 2007 at 9:19 am
Mark - isn’t some of that to do with the way some of the boundaries have been re-drawn? I was reading something about South Glos had been redivided up due to population changes etc.
I don’t claim to know, but it crossed my mind!
Matt
6 BSE Newsdesk // May 1, 2007 at 9:35 am
Matt - check this article for more info on the BBC website.
7 Boundary Geek // May 1, 2007 at 11:17 am
Matt, while its fair to say the boundary changes have created some anomalies locally. (eg. Stoke Brook Parish Ward which is within Bradley Stoke Town Council area is part of Stoke Gifford District Ward while Stoke Lodge which is part of Patchway Town Council is part of BS central district ward) I don’t think this has anything to do with the liberals not standing for the Town Council. The Town itself hasn’t moved it is purely the district wards that have created the anomalies above and yet five of their current town councillors aren’t seeking re election and only one of their five district candidates is also a candidate for the town council.
8 Matt // May 1, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Boundary geek - I’ve read a bit more this morning, and see your point, thank you!
I’d like to know why the lib-dems aren’t standing in more seats….any libdems around to explain?
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