The Lib Dems have been accused of a “brass neck” after running another by-election campaign attacking a rival’s living arrangements.
Locals in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward in Edinburgh will vote next week to select two councillors. One of the vacancies was created when Louise Spence quit the city chambers days after getting elected in November for the Lib Dems.
She portrayed herself as a “local” champion and attacked Tory and Labour politicians for living outside the ward. Her house was put on the market hours after her election as part of a move abroad.
It can now be revealed the Lib Dems are using the same campaign tactics in the race to succeed Spence. In a campaign leaflet, they said Labour candidate Conor Savage lives in the Merchiston area of the city: “Why has Labour once again chosen a candidate to represent our area but who doesn’t live locally?”
The leaflet did not mention the Spence row, but it was referred to in separate Lib Dem material: “The local Liberal Democrat team campaigned for our last candidate in good faith. As soon as we knew she was not going to be able to provide the level of service promised, we were clear she had to resign. We are deeply disappointed by what has happened.”
Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said: “We all need to do what we can to help the planet, but the Lib Dems are taking it to extremes by recycling the same old tired material. With their previous candidate now resident in the Middle East, the Lib Dems have a brass neck to attack anyone over where they live. Only Scottish Labour is ready to chart a new direction for Colinton and all of Scotland with our candidate Conor Savage.”
Tory MSP Sue Webber said: “The brass neck of Alex-Cole Hamilton’s Liberal Democrats is breathtaking Louise Spence’s scandalous decision to resign after just a week in the job showed how little regard they have for local people and taxpayers’ money.”
The other parties have honed in on the Spence scandal in their campaign leaflets. SNP candidate Mairianna Clyde told locals: “Voters have been seriously misled and the Lib Dems ought to be ashamed of themselves
Savage wrote in his leaflet: “Just one week after being elected in the last by-election, the Lib Dem resigned and moved to Dubai.” Tory candidate Neil Cuthbert said voters had been “conned”.
The Lib Dems, whose candidate is local resident Peter Nicholson, have been contacted.
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