HIGHAMS PARK: Lib Dem fury over sex slur leaflets

10:17am Thursday 20th November 2008

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A BY-ELECTION campaign has taken a disturbing twist with a sinister leaflet claiming Liberal Democrats want to legalise paedophilia being pushed through voters' doors.

The alarming development threatens to mar the Hale End & Highams Park poll, which is expected to be a close race between the Lib Dems and Conservatives.

The leaflets, which have been delivered to homes across the ward including homes in Beacontree Avenue, Hill Crest Road and Beech Hall, contain a message claiming to be written by disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter.

The '70s glam rocker was convicted of paedophilia in Cambodia.

Flanked by black and white images of bogeyman Freddy Krueger and children, the pamphlet says: “Only the Liberal Democrats have the integrity and courage to campaign against the fascist so-called Age of Consent laws, which deny our youngsters the right to enjoy physical acts of love with an enthusiastic adult like myself.”

The leaflet goes on to list Lib Dem politicians across the country who have allegedly been convicted of sex offences and features a manipulated picture of Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, with a caption reading, “He's the leader of the gang!”

A total of two by-election seats in the ward are up for grabs in the December 4 election, which was called following the sudden death of sitting councillor John Beanse and the resignation due to ill health of Noel Penstone.

Alan Horne, of Hill Crest Road, was among residents to receive the letter.

He said: “I was shocked because we have never had campaigning like this round here.

“I knew John (Beanse) very well and it is appalling that somebody would want to make such undoubtable slurs about the Liberal Democrats.”

In 2006 the Lib Dems narrowly won in the traditionally Tory wards, but there have so far been no signs that the campaign will turn nasty.

Conservative group leader Matt Davis, who is also the agent for the party's candidates Sandeep Christian and Sheree Rackham, vehemently denied his party had anything to do with the leaflets.

Cllr Davis said: “This is a disgraceful, dishonest and untrue attack and it is not legitimate political campaigning.

“Waltham Forest Conservatives unreservedly and wholeheartedly condemn the leaflet, its contents and whoever produced and distributed it.”

The Labour Group’s press spokesman Cllr Adam Gladstone said: “We are horrified people are putting out inflammatory and unpleasant material and we completely distance ourselves from it.”

The Lib Dems are now planning to make an official complaint to the returning officer.

Lib Dem election agent Henry Boyle said: “We would like to thank the many residents in Hale End and Highams Park who have contacted us so quickly to let us know about this literature.

“This leaflet is a carefully designed attempt to smear the Liberal Democrats nationally and contains material that many residents told us they considered extremely offensive.

“We know that the children of some local residents discovered these leaflets first and were particularly upset by the material.”