Lib-Dems fire first shot ahead of campaign

THOUSANDS of former constituents of disgraced Labour MP Phil Woolas were targeted by the Liberal Democrats just hours after he was stripped of his seat.

A four-page leaflet, published on behalf of Elwyn Watkins and printed in Peterborough, was delivered to homes in the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, as well as to homes in Shaw and Crompton, as early as 11am on Saturday.

The leaflet, called “News”, paid for by individual donations and delivered free by volunteers, featured a red headline stating Guilty next to an image of Mr Woolas on its front page.

Inside, the comment piece claimed Phil Woolas and the Labour Party had “brought shame on our area with their dirty election tactics”.

The leaflet claimed many voters were backing the Liberal Democrats to stop Labour retaining the seat in the forthcoming by-election.

It also said it was the Liberal Democrats who had announced the £44 million investment for the Women and Children super centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital, and they were set to spend £1.3 billion over the next four years improving and modernising the Post Office network.

Dave Smithson, North-West regional campaigns officer for the Liberal Democrats, said: “We wanted to make sure people were contacted to let people know about the forthcoming election.

“We’ve got off to a flying start and the leaflet shows the professionalism of our campaign and how serious we are about it.”

But Labour stalwart Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said the leaflet showed the Liberal Democrats were rattled by the court case and were not confident about winning the by-election when it is eventually held.

He said: “I haven’t seen the leaflet but people can draw their own conclusions from it and can see exactly what this is about.

“I’m not saying it is a bribe but it is certainly designed to make people feel good about the Liberal Democrats in a pretty crass way.

“If anything, it shows the Liberal Democrats are fairly rattled in the light of this court case.

Unpopular
“To put out a leaflet telling people there is going to be a by-election and to say ‘look at all the good investment we’re suddenly bringing to Oldham’ does suggest they are not wholly confident.”

“If you are really confident, you don’t need to do those things.”

Mr Meacher said unpopular moves by the coalition Government, such as increased tuition fees for university students, had resulted in a slide in Lib-Dem popularity.