Lewisham police are investigating a campaign leaflet published on behalf of two London Labour Party byelection candidates to consider if it transgresses electoral law. The leaflet, which appears to have been distributed on polling day during the recent campaign for Lewisham Council's Downham ward, claimed:
Our exit polls show: the BNP winning in Downham. It's more important than ever to VOTE LABOUR TODAY
Lewisham has confirmed that its returning officer has passed the leaflet to the police, who are looking into any breach of the 1983 Representation of the People Act. This sets out restrictions relating to the use of or reference to exit polls before an election is complete.
I've reported before - see here and here and here - on the methods used by Labour in Downham. These prominently included gathering a petition in favour of the Union flag being flown more frequently above the Labour-controlled Town Hall. The two seats up for grabs were comfortably retained by Lib Dems - one of them by Stephen Lawrence's friend Duwayne Brooks - who were displeased by Labour's tactics, believing they pandered to BNP attitudes. The sole BNP candidate finished a poor fourth.
At least one Labour leaflet made great play of the flag-flying petition. The "exit poll" one raises a different issue, of course. Yet it adds urgency to pressing questions about Labour's whole approach to the BNP in London. Is there a clear line and what is it? Does the London Party endorse the tactics used in Downham? I'd really like to know.
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