Local Conservatives Claim Labour Election Leaflet 'Retracted'
Tory candidate takes part in local hustings after having said she was pulling out
(photo courtesy @actonconservatives)
The Conservative party in Ealing Central and Acton are claiming Labour has withdrawn an 'offensive' election leaflet after threats of legal action - but Labour deny this is the case.
Their candidate, Joy Morrissey, had objected to literature distributed in the constituency on behalf of Rupa Huq highlighting issues over Ealing Hospital and Brexit which she claimed were 'blatant lies'.
She said that it was incorrect of Labour to imply that Ealing Hospital was closing and to describe her as being in favour of a hard Brexit.
Ms Morrissey pulled out of the National Union of Teachers hustings at Ealing Town Hall which was focusing on education on Thursday 25 May and said at that point she wouldn't take part in any others until a retraction was made.
This Tuesday evening (30 May) a blistering statement was sent on behalf of the Labour candidate which showed no evidence of retraction and stated that 'The Tory candidate's tantrum is an insult to residents'.
It went on to say, "It was entirely predictable that The Tory candidate would refuse to debate, given her record on the NHS and Brexit. She has lashed out at our campaign because she knows she cannot confront the facts."
However, last night Ms Morrissey did take part in the hustings held at St Mary's Church in Acton and local Conservatives tweeted that Labour had withdrawn their 'offensive' leaflet saying that they were delighted to hear it and that 'Lies & bullying have no place here.'
Joy tells us Rupa & Ealing Labour campaign have withdrawn their offensive leaflet. Delighted to hear it.
— Acton CONSERVATIVES (@ActonCONSERVAT1) May 31, 2017
Lies & bullying have no place here. pic.twitter.com/PG9pDdBDuv
We have requested official statements from both the Conservatives and Labour and will update as we get them.
A spokesperson for Dr Huq has just sent this:
“We haven’t withdrawn anything and we stand by all our literature”
There are three candidates for Ealing Central and Acton:
Jon Ball - Liberal Democrat
Rupa Huq - Labour
Joy Morrissey - Conservative
31 May 2017 ( updated)