Council leader investigated for giving free pens to voters

A CONSERVATIVE council leader is being investigated for election fraud – for handing out free pens.

Campaigners working for Jeremy Moulton, who is leader of the Conservatives in Southampton, Hampshire, delivered the pens with leaflets to voters in the Freemantle ward of the city.

The blue biros bear the slogan “Vote Jeremy Moulton for Freemantle” on the barrel. Hampshire Police says it is working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Electoral Commission to assess whether an offence has been committed ahead of the city’s council elections on May 3.

Ed Thompson, the Viva Europa candidate initially raised it as an inquiry with Mark Heat, Southampton’s returning officer, who said it was “a grey area” and that making gifts in this way could potentially be considered as “treating”, which might break rules under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

If found guilty, Cllr Moulton, who has been on the council since 2002 and is campaigning for re-election, could face a criminal conviction.

Describing it as “pen-gate”, Viva Europa said his behaviour was similar that of Kim Rose, the Southampton Itchen UKIP parliamentary candidate who handed out sausage rolls to voters in 2015. Mr Rose was accused of trying to influence voters, but the police felt no further action was needed.

A spokesman for Viva Europa said: “Whilst we believe Mr Moulton has been foolish and a little arrogant, we are not suggesting he had a deliberately

‘Everyone should be on a level playing field and not all parties would be happy or able to hand out pens’

corrupt intention. Everyone should be on a level playing field when it comes to elections and not all parties would be happy or able to hand out pens to postal voters.

“If nothing else, steps need to be taken to ensure the electorate doesn’t find their letter boxes filled with stressballs, coasters and other tat.

Simon Letts, leader of the Labourrun council, said: “Jeremy must be pretty worried about his position to use this sort of desperate tactic.”