Shock as local LibDems urged to use 'Pied-Piper' tactics on local children 05/04/06

Conservatives in Haringey have expressed their shock at the publication of a Lib Dem election guide urging their activists to involve children in delivering their leaflets for them by offering them sweets.

The Lib Dems' official guide for the local elections in May advises their candidates and activists to recruit children from council estates.

The guide advises: "You go into the middle of a council estate with your leaflets and you shout at all the local kids you can see and hear 'any of you lot want to help deliver all these leaflets?'.

"Then proceed Pied Piper-like round the estate doling out badges and toffees and leaflets, the last at least to be pushed through doors by the shouting, squealing and quarrelsome horde."

Commenting on this advice, Justin Hinchcliffe, Chairman of Tottenham Conservatives and himself a candidate in Mays elections, said:

When I first heard about this guide I thought it must be an April Fools joke. The Lib Dems are renowned as the dirtiest fighters in British politics, but I never dreamed they would stoop this low.

Offering sweets to children is just plain irresponsible and will totally undo all the lessons they will have learnt about not talking to strangers. Such reckless actions could result in children being put in considerable danger. I hope that the local Lib Dems will condemn this guidance and refuse to have any part of it.

In 2003 the Lib Dems were also attacked for issuing election guidance urging their candidates to "be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly". It also suggested that positive campaigning will not be enough to win control of the council".

Despite supposedly being withdrawn at the time, the leaflet remained on sale at later Lib Dem conferences and can still be purchased from a Lib Dem web site.


ENDS.