ROMFORD CONSERVATIVES FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AGAINST ANDREW ROSINDELL AND REFORM UK FOR "WILFUL DECEPTION OF VOTERS”
The Conservatives have filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Commission today over misleading election communications from the Member of Parliament for Romford, Andrew Rosindell. The source of the complaint stems from the signage at Margaret Thatcher House, Romford. Massive 8ft signs promoting Andrew Rosindell MP - along with “Vote Conservative” - feature prominently on the building, despite it being almost four months since Mr Rosindell defected to Reform UK.
Romford Conservatives say they have asked Mr Rosindell to remove the signs, which they argue misleads voters by suggesting that the local Conservatives endorse the Reform UK MP, or indeed that Conservatives can safely vote for Rosindell or his Reform candidates because the local party supports him. The complaint sets out that Mr Rosindell has been instructed to remove the signs, has refused to do so, and that he has threatened legal action against those who have attempted to remove the signs.
With polls opening for the local elections on Thursday, Romford Conservatives say these signs represent a breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983, specifically section 75: that these signs display themselves as being by the Conservatives without official consent from the Conservative Party, without authorisation for the notional spending as part of regulations on election expenditure.
Dominic Swan, the Chairman of the Romford Conservative Association, said: “We've been left with no choice. Andrew Rosindell and Reform UK has ignored every request to remove these signs, threatened anyone who's tried to take them down, and is now attempting to fight a local election on a false prospectus. Voters going to the polls in three days deserve to know the truth: he is not a Conservative, and his candidates are not Conservative candidates. We're just sick of this farce.”
Adam Baker, the Conservative Electoral Agent in Havering, said: “This is wilful deception on the part of a Member of Parliament who is more concerned with playing games than being honest with voters. Andrew Rosindell is not a Conservative, he knows these signs mislead voters, and yet he does not seem to care. It's simply taking voters for granted, and it needs to stop. He would do well to remember that voters expect honesty and integrity from their politicians.”
If you believe that Mr Rosindell's signs mislead people, you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
