Parties’ war of words over Wirral by-election leaflet claims

Nov 18 2009 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

LABOUR has branded the Conservatives “out of order” after Moreton Tory councillor Chris Blakeley said he was “sickened” by a leaflet attacking his party’s record in the ward.

Cllr Blakeley told the News “he didn’t know a political party could sink so low” after coming across a Labour leaflet being distributed in the run-up to the Moreton West and Saughall Massie by-election on November 26.

The by-election was triggered by the premature death of Conservative incumbent Suzanne Moseley this summer.

Cllr Blakeley feels the leaflet directly attacks Suzanne Moseley when it states: “You may ask yourself what the local Conservative councillors have been doing about these problems all these years.

“As you can see they haven’t been doing very much.”

Cllr Blakeley said: “Under the circumstances it should have said, what have Cllrs Blakeley and Mountney been doing, and not included Suzanne.

“When I read it, I felt totally sickened.

“To think they could put such a thing and admonish the memory of a councillor who served the community of Moreton and Saughall Massie for six years with total commitment, and attack that memory.

“I didn’t know a political party could sink so low.”

But Labour’s Cllr Phil Davies said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to criticise us for any kind of slight on Suzanne Moseley.

“I’ve seen the leaflet and it does not make any criticism of Suzanne, to imply or even allege that it does is just not true.

“I think what it’s saying is that if we had Labour representatives in the seat, we could do a better job for the electorate of Moreton than the incumbents.

“I think everybody feels really sorry for the tragic way in which Suzanne died and it’s out of order frankly for the Conservatives to attack us for suggesting we attacked Suzanne.”

Meanwhile a public debate will be attended by all candidates except those from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, at the Grange pub in Moreton, on November 23.

The Conservative’s Steve Williams, Wirral Campaign Against the Cut’s (WCAC) Alec McFadden and the Green Party’s Jim McGinley will battle it out from 7pm.

Labour’s Andrew Hollingworth declined WCAC’s invitation and Lib Dem’s Steve Pitt has a prior commitment.