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Taunton Conservative Candidate Forced To apologise for Slurs Following Police Investigation

Forced to apologise for slurs on officers and Lib Dem councillor  

The Somerset County Council election took a step into the gutter today when Conservative candidate in West Taunton, Nick James, was forced to issue a public apology for personal attacks on his Lib Dem opponent, Alan Paul, and non-political officers of the Council. The apology came after Police had warned the Conservative agent that a last-minute Conservative leaflet was illegal.

Mr. James falsely claimed that Alan Paul was behaving "like a disgraced Westminster M.P. whose mealy-mouthed lies roll so easily off the tongue"  and "continues to pay himself £30,000 per year of your money".

In fact, all councillors' allowances (salaries) are set by an independent panel who expect a third of the work to be voluntary. Mr. Paul receives £11,733 per annum (gross), including a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Mr. James also attacked the competence of senior Finance officers of the County Council despite the fact that Somerset County Council has a top 4 star rating for 'value for money' in its financial management.

Alan Paul said "It is quite unfair that non-political officers are drawn into political debate by false accusations to which they cannot respond. I had hoped that all political parties would agree that councillors' allowances are clear, transparent and well regulated, so that the electors can be encouraged to vote without the fear that we are contaminated by the mess going on at Westminster. I regret that Mr. James tried to tarnish me and by implication all other councillors in this mire." 

Conservative apology that is being delivered to all households in Taunton West.

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