A VIDEO has been circulating online appearing to show Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth East removing a leaflet from somebody’s postbox. 

Tom Hayes can be seen snatching another party’s leaflet from a resident’s door and swapping it with a Labour leaflet while out campaigning. 

It is unclear where the footage, caught on a constituent’s Ring Doorbell and shared via the BCP Conservatives, was taken and when it happened. 

BCP Council leader Phil Broadhead said: “While the Conservatives across BCP have been focusing on a positive campaign with a plan for the future, it is disappointing to see others resorting to tactics such as this, especially considering this person has been selected by the Labour Party as a parliamentary candidate.” 

 

Cllr Chris Rigby, leader of the BCP Green Party, said: “This is really disappointing to find out that a party would stoop to doing that and actually remove election literature. 

“It’s democratic for people to receive anything which has been put out by parties and to do so, we believe, is to break electoral laws. We are exploring that at the moment. 

“It’s frustrating to see when we are running a good campaign to have it jeopardised by a leaflet being removed not just by an activist, but Labour’s parliamentary candidate.” 

He added: “If we had one of our activists or candidates doing this, we would look at suspending them.” 

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Tom HayesCllr Tom Hayes (Image: Oxford Mail)

A BCP council spokesman said: “We have been made aware of this incident and are taking the required action.” 

Mr Hayes, Labour’s member of parliament candidate for Bournemouth East, is a sitting councillor for Oxford City Council and has previously stood to be an MP in Greater Manchester. 

He announced late last year he would be running against Bournemouth East MP, Tobias Ellwood, at the next general election.

Mr Hayes and the Labour Party have been approached for a comment.