Labour deny the people of Burngreave a choice in local elections

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Apr 2008

Labour Leader congratulating Mr Hersi on cheating local people in Burngreave

The Labour Party in Sheffield have engineered the withdrawal of the candidate due to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Burngreave at the local elections in May. After signing nominations papers agreeing to stand, just five days later Mr Hersi withdrew after the deadline to put up a replacement had passed. A Labour Councillor handed in the letter of withdrawal in for Mr Hersi and Mr Hersi has since joined the Labour Party.

Cllr David Baker, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: -

"This news has come as a surprise to us as Mr Hersi had only just signed his nomination forms agreeing to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Burngreave. He agreed to be the candidate only to withdraw five days later without telling anyone, after the deadline for submitting a new candidate had passed."

"But after making some enquiries the real reasons behind this calculated move have become clear. Mr Hersi was accompanied by former Labour councillor Veronica Hardstaff and current Labour Councillor Mazher Iqbal when withdrawing his nomination on Friday. We have learnt that Cllr Iqbal even handed in the letter from Mr Hersi to inform us at the Town Hall Reception."

"The Labour Party are the architects behind this plot to try and discredit the Liberal Democrats, but in doing so they have denied the people of Burngreave a choice at the elections in May. Mr Hersi has simply been used as a political pawn."

"It's sad that Labour have reverted to these tactics, which fly in the face of democracy, as they become even more desperate in the run up to the local elections in May. We will carry on talking about the positive issues during this election, but it's clear that the Labour Party are willing to stoop to any level in this election to try and cling onto power."