Claims that Cotswold council’s newsletter is biased towards the Liberal Democrats have been labelled as a “desperate” Tory tactic to distract from their “terrible record” in Government, according to council chiefs.
Conservatives claim the Lib Dem-controlled Cotswold District Council is using taxpayer funds and public resources to bolster their re-election chances.
Tory councillors say the latest edition of the Cotswold News, which is published by the council and has been sent to every household in the district, openly uses the wording of the Lib Dems’ own pamphlets.
But council officers have reiterated the authority’s impartiality and Lib Dem council chiefs have also rejected the claims.
Conservative group leader Tony Berry (C, Kemble) said the council “news-sheet” has previously been the subject of considerable dispute, having been seen to have no balance between the parties and focusing solely on Lib Dem councillors.
He said: “At a cost of some £14,000 per issue, this is no laughing matter. They are completely shameless when it comes to putting themselves forward, much of what they claim to have achieved is through Government money, jointly with others, or not quite what they say’.
“Over the last four years, Cotswold District Council issued about four to five press releases per month. Now, with the elections coming up in May, they are issuing releases every day. You can’t tell me they’re anything other than electioneering and using.”
Cotswold District Council leader Joe Harris (LD, St Michael’s) said it is normal for political messaging to be similar or the same to messages that public bodies put out.
He also hit back at the Tories and said they are desperate to distract from their terrible record in Government and previously in the Cotswolds.
“Indeed this week we’ve seen the Conservative Government using the slogan ‘stop the boats’ on both party political communications and in Number
10 Downing Street on taxpayer-funded lecterns and social media accounts.
“In this case, the phrase ‘Caring for the Cotswolds’ was used in the context of highlighting the support available from the council to help with the cost of living crisis, and while many agree that the Lib Dems are caring for our Cotswolds it is not our election slogan.
“A few weeks out from the local elections, the Conservatives are desperate to distract from their terrible national and local record.
“They’ve put forward no policies whatsoever on how to improve our local area and under them, services at Cirencester and North Cotswolds Hospitals have been cut.
“They need to spend less time writing press releases and more time fixing the terrible state of the NHS.”
A Cotswold District Council spokesperson said officers at the authority operate impartially and fairly in line with national law and guidance. “All communications issued by council adheres to national guidance and is in line with common practice for councils across the country,” a spokesperson said.
Cotswold District Council currently has 18 Liberal Democrat councillors, 13 Conservatives, one Independent and one Green Party councillor. There is also one vacant seat. The next district council elections are due to take place on May 4.
