A political candidate said he 'didn't realise distributing leaflets was campaigning' after being spotted promoting his candidacy during the Queen's mourning period. Andy Freeman, Labour candidate in a Newark and Sherwood District Council by election, had said he would not campaign on social media but was later seen leafleting on Tuesday, September 13.
Following the Queen's death, the Labour party had advised the suspension of all campaigning. Mr Freeman, a candidate for Edwinstowe, Clipstone and Kings Clipstone, said: "I was delivering leaflets on that day until I was informed by our Regional Party that all campaigning had been suspended. I was only informed of this at about 6pm on 13th of September and I stopped until after Her Majesty’s funeral had taken place."
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A Facebook post on Mr Freeman's campaign page from September 8, stated: "Out of respect to the Queen and the Royal Family all campaigning on the By Election has been suspended until further notice. RIP Ma’am."
Mr Freeman explained that "he didn't realise leaflets were campaigning" at the time. He said: "I was out of order and should have realised to be honest."
After he realised his mistake he contacted the regional Labour office to inform them, and made sure not to do any further campaigning until after the Queen's funeral on Monday, September 19.
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