Don’t vote for me, I’m a candidate by mistake, insists Tory

NORMAL behaviour during elections is for candidates to persuade, wheedle and plead with voters to cast ballot papers in their favour.

Not for Thomas Williamson. The Conservative candidate for the Shetland council seat of Lerwick North has urged voters not to support him.

Mr Williamson, 73, has claimed he was bamboozled into standing in next month’s elections and that his candidacy is “a cock-up”.

He said this followed a brief conversation with Conservative Party officials during which he was asked to stand.

Mr Williamson explained that the phone call was cut off before he could state he did not wish to do so and he heard nothing further until he saw his name appear in the notice of election.

Conservative Party officials insist Mr Williamson has signed the paperwork agreeing to stand as a candidate.