FRAUD officers have forced the Labour Party to withdraw a leaflet which is “not factually accurate” ahead of the upcoming Colchester Council elections.

Essex Police has contacted the party’s election agent to ask for canvassers to stop distributing a leaflet promoting Claire Osborne, the Labour candidate for Shrub End.

It followed a complaint from Liberal Democrat election agent Martin Goss, who is defending his seat in Mile End when voters have their say on Thursday, over “false claims about how far candidates live from the ward boundary”.

Mr Goss explained: “It’s not always possible to get a candidate who lives right inside the ward but we try and match our candidates to the nearest ward. This year none of the candidates in Shrub End live in the boundary.”

Gazette: Complaint - Mile End councillor Martin GossComplaint - Mile End councillor Martin Goss

The Lib Dem candidate, Mark Arnold, lives “no more than 0.6 miles from the boundary” but, in its leaflet, Labour has used a yellow arrow to suggest Mr Arnold lives 3.2 miles away.

An email from a detective constable in the Essex Police’s fraud triage team, seen by the Gazette, says Labour “has been asked to cease distribution of the leaflets as the mileage is not factually accurate”.

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'Dirty tactics'

Elsewhere in the city, a leaflet promoting Steph Nissen, who is defending her seat in Castle ward, has faced similar criticism.

The leaflet points out that “the Green candidate doesn’t live in Castle ward but Steph does” alongside an image of a green signpost with the words “4.5 miles away”.

But the Gazette understands the Green candidate, Kemal Cufoglu, lives a few hundred metres from the ward boundary in Harwich Road, which stretches between East Street and Bromley Road and in its entirety is less than a mile long.

Gazette: Campaign - leaflets promoting the Labour candidates in Colchester Council's Shrub End and Castle wardsCampaign - leaflets promoting the Labour candidates in Colchester Council's Shrub End and Castle wards (Image: Newsquest)

Mark Goacher, election agent for the Greens, plans to raise the issue with the Electoral Commission and has hit out at the “dirty tactics”.

“The vast majority of members and supporters of Colchester Labour are decent and motivated people,” he said.

“Whoever is doing this needs to consider the impression they’re giving of the local Labour group.”

Asked to respond to the leaflet controversy, a Labour spokesman said: “On Thursday, voters have a clear choice to elect a Labour candidate that will bring a fresh start for Colchester.

“Labour will invest in housing, support green spaces and be on the side of local residents.”

Essex Police said: “We have received a report in relation to an electoral leaflet that was distributed in the Colchester area.

“Our specialist officers are assessing the information and will provide a proportionate response.”

Pauline Bacon (Lab), Phoebe Butcher (Con), and Amanda Kirke (Grn) are the other candidates for Mile End. Martin Gillingham (Lib) and Ryan Smith (Con) are also standing in Castle ward and Bob Brannan (Grn) and Angela Linghorn-Baker (Con) are standing in Shrub End.