Election row accuser faces benefits charge

A WOMAN who reported a politician to a benefits hotline has appeared in court herself, accused of benefit fraud.

Rebecca McGladdery (44), of Galland Street, Greenacres, faces three charges in a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) prosecution.

One alleges that she failed to notify a change of circumstances between January 7, 2008 and April 27, 2009, by working while continuing to claim benefits.

The other charges are of making false statements to obtain benefits.

Ms McGladdery failed to appear at Oldham Magistrates on March 9 and a warrant with bail was issued for her arrest.

She appeared at the court yesterday (29) when her case was adjourned until April 28 to give her solicitor time to prepare her case and apply for legal aid. Unconditional bail was extended.

Ms McGladdery made headlines before last year’s general election when she appeared on TV and in newspapers saying candidate Elwyn Watkins had paid staff £2.80 less than the minimum wage when she worked for the Liberal Democrat local party in 2009. Mr Watkins said the claims were untrue and he was the victim of a smear campaign.

He was reported to HM Revenue and Customs but an investigation found they were working as volunteers not employees and didn’t take it further.

Ms McGladdery had gone to work for the Labour Party when she made the allegations.

She repeated the claims during the historic election court last year that saw Labour MP Phil Woolas stripped of his Oldham East and Saddleworth seat for lying about his Lib-Dem opponent Mr Watkins.

She admitted making various complaints about Mr Watkins to Oldham and Rochdale councils, the tax-evasion hotline, the benefits hotline, and HM Revenue and Customs, making complaints about several councillors and reporting a fellow Lib-Dem volunteer to the RSPCA for mistreating a cat.