Harwich: Cheque it out, Tories get Labour rent payment

Surprised workers at the Tory office in Station Road, Clacton, could hardly believe their eyes when they opened the envelope which arrived in the post this morning.

And not only was the cheque from the Paymaster General sent to their address but it was also made out to the association - despite an invoice accompanying it which bore Mr Henderson's name.

A spokesman for the association said: "We are more than happy to accept money which should be going to the Labour Party - but it is obviously a big mistake.

"Although we would be delighted to pay it into our account we will be sending it on to Mr Henderson with our compliments."

The spokesman said it was most likely to be an end-of-year payment for the constituency office. He could only assume the fees office at the House of Commons was still using the address and details for the previous MP - Tory Iain Sproat - who was defeated by Mr Henderson two years ago.

Garry Calver, a spokesman for Mr Henderson, said his office would be glad to receive the money.

"I am sure the Tories were surprised," he said. "It is now two years since they received a rental cheque for their property."

Mr Calver said he would be making sure the fees office at the House of Commons did not make the same mistake again.

An embarrassed spokesman for the fees office at Westminster, said today: "I am afraid the egg is well and truly on our face this time."

He explained the office made payments to MPs for the rental of constituency premises. All the various offices are coded and there would be just one digit difference between that of the Harwich Labour Party and the Harwich Conservative Association.

"We have a new computer system and I suspect the wrong digit has been used in thise case and we will be looking into it," he added.

"I would hope the Conservative association will not be cashing the cheque!"

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.