Labour Councillor reports 'Fib Dems Liars' to police

Councillor Colin Lambert

A Labour Councillor has accused the Lib Dems of deceit in yesterday's Middleton North by-election. Councillor Colin Lambert has made an official complaint to the borough solicitor and the police following a Lib Dem leaflet distributed in the ward yesterday morning in which the Lib Dems announced the result of postal votes cast.

Councillor Lambert said: "Despite, lying, deceiving and cheating, the Lib Dems still failed to take the North Middleton Council seat from Labour.

"Despite the twelve leaflets they put out during the campaign, leaflets which contained many deliberate lies, which were meant to deceive the people of Middleton, the Fib Dem Liars still failed.

"The latest attempt by these people to deceive the public was on election morning, when they stated in a leaflet that they had the result of the postal ballot in advance of the count. To announce a result in advance is against election law, which is why the labour party has reported the matter to the borough solicitor and to Greater Manchester Police for investigation.

"In addition to the above they also lied in the leaflets regarding:

• The leader of Middleton Labour being in favour of congestion charging (Middleton Labour leader Cllr Peter Williams has always been against congestion charges).
• They lied about the recycling rates.
• They lied about the removal of weekly household waste collection.
• They lied about Jim Dobbin MP.
• They lied about Homecare.

"From here on, they shall be known as The Rochdale Fib Lie Democrats."

Middleton Lib Dems pointed to a 21.3% swing towards them.  This was, they say, one of the highest swings in any by-election, for any party this year.  The Lib Dems, who were thirrd in the seat in May came within 37 votes of winning the seat.  

Council Leader Alan Taylor said, “There are serious concerns about the low turn out in this contest. 

"I would like to praise our candidate Rhoda Morley and the team led brilliantly by Parliamentary Candidate Wera Hobhouse. 

"If this result was repeated in the next General Election  we would win the Parliamentary Seat.

"As for the Conservatives, this election was a disaster. 

"We wish Labour’s new councillor well; he has a lot to do.” 

Lib Dem Agent Adam Power hit back at Councillor Lambert,  he said: “Councillor Lambert is obviously pursuing a job as Labour leader - he obviously lacks the intellect needed.  Rather than celebrating the fact that his under pressure party have just elected the youngest Councillor in the borough, he chooses to go on the attack in a grubby attempt to catch headlines.  He behaved very poorly at the count and even tried to stop the re-count.  I am sure that none of his Labour colleagues are too impressed that under his watch, Labour almost lost one of their safest seats in the borough.”

Responding to the Lib Dems being reported to the police, Mr Power said: “We did not break the law we merely indicated that after the postal vote the Tories were out of the race.

"As for his other complaints:

• “Middleton’s Labour Leader is Councillor Allen Brett.  Councillor Peter Williams is Chair of Middleton Township.
• “We said that recycling rates have gone up – they have!
• “We published a letter signed by Middleton’s Labour Leader supporting Alternate Weekly Collection.
• “We said that Labour’s campaign was in chaos, which was true.  We mentioned the fact that even Jim Dobbin didn’t know where his councillors resided – true!
• "We didn’t mention Homecare.”

Mr Power added: “We worked hard in this campaign and will continue the momentum until May.  The 'Fib Dem' comments show a sheer lack of thought.  Is it any wonder that with Councillors like the very arrogant Councillor Lambert that turn outs are so low!?”