Rutland County Council say its not an offence to ask people, Not To Vote Tory

During the election campaign I produced many leaflets asking people in Oakham to Vote on May 5th I said if they wanted change don't vote for a Tory.

Conservative Councillor Gene Plews, felt this may have been illegal. He had a conversation with Geoff Pook, Head of Corporate Governance of Rutland County Council.

Who responded via e-mail: (my ref 002)

From: Geoffrey Pook
Sent: 08th April 2011 15:54
To: Gene Plews
Cc: Roger Begy; Helen Briggs
Subject: Vote Leaflets placed on Vehicles

Hello Gene.

Further to our conversation yesterday, I do not believe that an election offence has been committed by the
distribution of the small papers bearing Mr Brookes's name.

If he distributed them in the ward in which he is a candidate, then he should account for any cost incurred
as part of his election expenses return. The same would be true for any other candidate who had asked him
to distribute them in other wards, but seems rather unlikely, especially as the handwritten message is a negative
one rather than an indication of support for specific candidates.

Regards
Geoff

Geoff Pook Head of Corporate Governance.
Rutland County Council
Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP

www.rutland.gov.uk


Conservative Councillor Gene Plews replied

From: Gene Plews
Sent: 08 April 2011 21:01
To: Geoffrey Pook
Cc: Helen Briggs
Subject: RE: Vote Leaflets placed on Vehicles

Thanks Geoff for the quick response-much appreciated,

Regards Gene