03/05/10 - Reacting to Dirty Tricks Campaign

Dozens of Conservative posters advertising the Party';s candidate in the Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland constituency, Paul Bristow, have been vandalised and torn down.

Posters have appeared across Teesside advertising political parties and candidates as the election nears. The Conservatives have placed over 70 signs in fields of local farmers over the past three weeks but they have repeatedly been torn down, stolen or defaced. It would appear the effort has been targeted in this particular constituency as posters in neighbouring constituencies have not been attacked.

The police have also been told about cars that have been damaged and that people have knocked on the doors of elderly residents late at night pretending to be Conservative canvassers.

Commenting on the vandalism Paul Bristow stated:

“This is a concerted assault on democracy and blatant criminal damage. I know the political temperature rises during elections and the result here will be close, but people should not be trespassing and attacking our signs.

“Members of the public have contacted us disgusted that this happening and some have offered to help us put replacements up. The fact that cars have also been damaged and residents upset by bogus canvassers makes this even more serious.

“We have reported this to the police and I hope in the final few days the dirty tricks stop.”