Candidate protest after rival’s leaflet labels him a Tory
AN Independent candidate has objected to his Green opponent calling him a Conservative in a local election leaflet.
Veteran Rossendale councillor Jimmy Eaton was expelled from the Tory Party in 2021 for standing unsuccessfully as an Independent in the Lancashire County Council elections against its official candidate Margaret Pendlebury.
He had been deselected in her favour earlier in the year as party hopeful for the Rossendale East division which he had represented for 12 years.
Cllr Eaton has since represented Greensclough ward in Bacup and Weir as an Independent and was seeking reelection on Thursday.
He has represented it for 30 years.
Cllr Eaton has objected to a leaflet put out by Green candidate Alexander Vijatov which says: “It’s a simple choice between Alexander or two Conservatives.
“It’s a choice between local Alexander or the Conservative candidate or the former Conservative standing as an Independent. The Conservatives have been so busy fighting themselves that they are now seemingly standing against themselves in this election - one as an Independent and one as a Conservative candidate.”
Labour are not fielding a candidate.
Cllr Eaton, 72, said: “I am an Independent, not an Independent Conservative. I was expelled from the party last year.
“This leaflet is simply untrue. I am an individual. I have not regularly voted with the Conservatives in the council chamber.
“I voted with my conscience and have on many occasions voted against the Conservatives. The Mr Vijatov and the Greens should withdraw this leaflet immediately.”
The Green Party’s only councillor Cllr Julie Adshead said: “The local Green Party is simply pointing out that, although Jimmy Eaton is currently standing as an Independent candidate, he has previously sat for many years as a Conservative councillor. There is nothing at all misleading about the statement in our election communication.”
Rossendale’s Conservative leader Cllr David Foxcroft said: “There is only one Conservative candidate in Greensclough, Stuart Haughan. The fact there is no Labour candidate speaks volumes.”
A Rossendale Council spokeswoman said: “Cllr Jimmy Eaton reported his concerns to us last week and after speaking with both the police and the Electoral Commission, we have been advised that the content of the leaflet does not constitute an election offence.
“The Green Party are allowed therefore continue to distribute the leaflets if they wish.”
The candidates in Greensclough are: Jimmy Eaton (Ind), Stuart Haughan (Con), and Alexander Vijatov (Green).
Voters were due to be heading to the polls on Thursday for the latest set of elections to Rossendale and Bury councils.
Twelve of Rossendale council’s 36 seats are up for grabs, with those results making a Labour or Conservative majority or a continuation of no overall control all possible end outcomes.
A shake up this year sees the Greens fielding candidates in 11 of the wards, with four independents and one Community First candidate also in the running.
There are no elections in Cribden or Facit & Shawforth - due to the annual rotation.
The Conservatives, Greens, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are all fielding candidates in Ramsbottom and North Manor on Bury council, with three councillors to be elected in each ward.
We will have results and reaction to the May 5 elections in next week’s paper and the Lancs Live website.