A Green councillor has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Harrogate agent to apologise for sending a “misleading and distressing” letter to voters.
Sam Gibbs is the Conservative councillor for Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate on North Yorkshire Council. He is also the political agent for Richmond — the seat held by Mr Sunak.
The Mirror revealed voters in Stockton-on-Tees received letters in the run-up to this month’s local elections with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council‘s name and address at the top alongside the words ‘your council tax bill 2023 is up 38% since 2016’.
Labour is the largest party on the council.
Some of the wording was in red to appear similar to a final payment demand. But it was actually a Conservative campaign leaflet produced at Richmond constituency office.
The bottom of the letter says ‘this is not a bill and no payment is required’.
The Mirror wrote:
“Sam Gibbs was responsible for the scam leaflet that scared people into thinking they owed money.”
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Arnold Warneken, a Green councillor who represents Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, described the letter as “misleading and distressing”. Cllr Warneken said:
“It makes people think they owe money. Without doubt, it’s made to appear like an official document.
“The people of Stockton-on-Tees are due an apology for this misleading leaflet. It’s disgraceful behaviour by the Conservatives.”
Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone on North Yorkshire Council and is leader of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, said it was “outrageous behaviour from the Conservatives”. She added:
“Sending out literature which would have been very frightening for many is so, so wrong. You have to ask the question ‘why?’
“To frighten people into voting against the opposition councillors on Stockton council in this way is totally unacceptable and should be investigated.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Cllr Gibbs and the Conservative Party but has not had a response.
Rishi Sunak to court Conservatives in Harrogate tomorrowRishi Sunak will visit Harrogate tomorrow to court Conservative Party members as he attempts to boost his flagging hopes of becoming the next Prime Minister, the Stray Ferret understands.
The former Chancellor is expected to be in Harrogate at around 3pm to meet members, who have been voting for either Foreign Secretary Liz Truss or Mr Sunak to be the next Tory leader and PM.
Mr Sunak was the most popular choice among MPs, but among members, polling has put him consistently behind Ms Truss.
Bookmaker William Hill has odds of 1/16 for Ms Truss to be the winner with Mr Sunak trailing way behind on 17/2.
A lengthy campaign has seen two rivals tour the country in July and August.
Liz Truss met members in Harrogate on August 9, attending a house on the Duchy estate believed to be owned by Harrogate Borough Council deputy leader Graham Swift.
Liz Truss arrives at Bettys in Harrogate this month.
It will be the second visit to the Harrogate district for Mr Sunak, who spoke to party members in Masham earlier in the campaign.
The winner will be announced by September 5.
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The Richmond MP has the backing of both Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith.
In an article on his website, Community News, Mr Jones described why he is backing the former chancellor. He wrote:
“The country needs someone who is consistent and transparent to reinvigorate trust in politics.”