Row Councillors lock horns over by-election battle

LABOUR and Conservative councillors have locked horns over a “defamatory” and “intolerant” by-election campaign.

The argument centres on the recent Emersons Green Town Council byelection which was won by Conservative candidate Ursula Shepherd. The Tories won by just five votes. Tory leader of South Gloucestershire Council Toby Savage sent a tweet congratulating Ms Shepherd and also accused Labour of running a “nasty and intolerant” campaign.

The council leader has blasted Kingswood Labour for being “sore losers” and focusing on Ms Shepherd’s South African heritage while canvassing. He is now calling on the group to appologise.

“They ran a nasty campaign seemingly focused around the fact that Ursula wasn’t born in the UK, despite having lived for years in South Gloucestershire, her home,” he said.

“And they have been very sore losers in defeat. All in all, this is a textbook example of how absolutely not to conduct yourselves as an alleged mainstream political party. Kingswood Labour should be ashamed of themselves and apologise.”

However, Labour claim it is the Tories who have acted irresponsibly.

Chair of Kingswood group, Suzanne Williams, has penned an open letter to Mr Savage chastising him for “defaming” Labour candidate Sandie Davis.

“Our campaign for Emersons Green Town Council was not ‘nasty and intolerant’ as you said on Twitter,” Ms Williams said in her correspondence.

“Our candidate Sandie Davis is a local foster mother of children with special needs, a school governor, and a foodbank volunteer. And what is more, she is about the nicest, kindest, most caring person you could meet.

“There is simply no need for such unsubstantiated accusations to be thrown around and you defame good people when you make these claims.”

Ms Williams also suggests Mr Savage should be pleased at the level of female engagement in the by-election.

“The people of Emersons and Lyde were fortunate to have two publicspirited women candidates to choose from,” she said. “At a time when we all want to encourage more women into politics this election should be seen as a sign of healthy engagement. We offer our hearty congratulations to Ursula Shepherd who showed good sportsmanship by shaking the hands of all the Labour activists at the vote count and by generally being very friendly.

“There is just no need for you to descend to this Toby, especially as you have such a responsible public position in our community, paid for, let’s remember, by taxpayers of all political persuasions and none, all of whom you should represent fairly. I hope you will do better in future and take a leaf out of Ursula’s book.”

The clash is the latest in an ongoing spat between the parties. Mr Savage angered the Labour group after he sent a letter to households suggesting the by-election was a waste of money as an all-out council election will take place next year. Labour hit back and said the Tories were taking an undemocratic view. The Conservatives then accused Labour of running a “discriminatory” and “intolerant” campaign after a tweet from Bristol Labour councillor for Frome Vale and Parliamentary candidate for Kingswood, Nicola Bowden-Jones, stated Ms Shepherd is “not from” South Gloucestershire.

Ms Bowden-Jones has since said Mr Savage was “trying to distract attention” and likened the council leader to the power-hungry Poldark villain George Warleggan.

“Firstly I would like to congratulate Ursula on her victory,” she said.

“Secondly, I can understand Toby Savage trying to distract attention from a result which very nearly saw Labour win a safe Conservative seat. He knows times are changing which is why he tried to stop the election taking place. He really is the Warleggan of South West politics.”