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HOWARD CONDEMNS LIBERAL DEMOCRAT "DIRTY TRICKS"

A Liberal Democrat plot reported in the Independent newspaper, to make the Labour candidate in Folkestone and  Hythe defect to try to unseat Michael Howard, the Conservative candidate, was condemned yesterday by both Mr Howard and local Conservatives.

The paper says the Labour candidate, Maureen Tomison, said she was approached by a senior member of the Liberal Democrats offering her a o­ne-to-one meeting with Charles Kennedy if she switched her allegiance.

She stated that she felt “insulted� by the approach and accused the Liberal Democrats of “dirty tricks�.

Mr Howard said: “This is the sort of low political manoeuvring o­ne has come to expect from the Liberal Democrats. This seems to fly in the face of the pledge given by Charles Kennedy, and presumably his local candidate Peter Carroll, to fight a clean campaign.â€?

Jonathan Holborow, Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe Conservative Association, said: “We are very disturbed by this report. In a free democracy, this is not how o­ne expects a political party to behave. It is up to the people to decide which party they support.

“The idea that deals can be struck behind closed doors is a denial of the democratic process and frankly unethical. I call upon Peter Carroll to condemn such manipulation of the political process.�

The Independent report said the approach to Ms Tomison was made by John Stevens, a major donor to the party and whose role in the current national election campaign is to promote the Liberal Democrats in the foreign press. Ms Tomison claimed she had been bombarded with phone calls and that Mr Stevens had told her that Charles Kennedy would see her in a o­ne-to-one talk to invite her to stand down at the last minute.

In that way the Liberal Democrats would get rid of Michael Howard, Ms Tomison is quoted as being told.

The Independent confirmed with Mr Stevens that he had spoken with Ms Tomison.

The Liberal Democrats  Folkestone and Hythe candidate Peter Carroll is reported as saying they had nothing to do with the calls. 

The national Liberal Democrats said they had no knowledge of Mr Stevens' actions.