Tories apologise after 'yanking' Labour leaflet

A Conservative activist has apologised after apparently "yanking" a Labour pamphlet from a letterbox in Gloucestershire.

Abbeydale resident Anthony Buffin's doorbell camera appeared to show an activist putting literature through a letterbox, while pulling out a Labour leaflet.

Labour's Gloucester candidate, Alex McIntyre, said he wanted all parties to "rise above underhand tactics."

Richard Graham, Conservative MP for Gloucester said “the volunteer involved has apologised profusely”.

The incident took place in Abbeydale on 27 May, shortly before 13:00 BST, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Buffin said it "all happened within five minutes" as he was stood the other side of the door.

"I went to grab the pamphlet and then there was another guy dropping off Conservative pamphlets and I just saw him drag it out of the letterbox," he said.

"I just thought he was pulling it back to push his pamphlet through, but when I checked, it was just his there."

"I checked the Ring doorbell camera and he yanked the Labour pamphlet out and then put his leaflet through.

“You can see him trying to discreetly screw it up and put it in his bag.

"I thought it was a bit cheeky and is it really necessary?"

The Conservatives have held the seat of Gloucester since 2010, with Richard Graham representing the constituency.

Labour represented the city in parliament between 1997-2010.

Labour candidate Mr McIntyre said: “Integrity in our politics matters to me. It’s what hardworking residents in Gloucester deserve.

"Since the Conservatives called the election, we have been running a positive campaign sharing our message for change in our city and country.

“I am calling on all parties to do our democracy proud by rising above underhand tactics. Our city deserves better.”

Gloucester’s Conservative MP Richard Graham said the volunteer involved has "apologised profusely".

“Everyone in the wider team [has been] reminded of our ground rules of respect for constituents and opposition parties alike,” he said.

“We win by winning the argument about who is the best MP for Gloucester, not by removing and recycling other would be MPs’ claims.”

The other candidates who have already declared plans to stand in the Gloucester constituency are:

• Chris Farmer - Reform Party

• Adam Shearing - Green Party

• Rebecca Trimnell - Liberal Democrat

The full list of candidates will be available online once nominations close on 7 June.

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