Questions are being raised by residents this weekend after senior police officers were pictured with the Conservative by-election candidate Andrew Mackness, and whether this is appropriate so close to a tight fought by-election.
As postal votes land on doorsteps, Mark Reckless MP for Rochester & Strood has been spotted on the doorstep in a last minute attempt to garner support for this crucial test of local opinion on his job as a Member of Parliament. A loss of support in this key marginal seat would be a blow given the level of support secured in May. Mark is also a serving member of the Home Affairs Select Committee which is chaired by Keith Vaz.
Whilst all parties agree that working with the Police is extremely important in a ward with major problems with anti-social behaviour and prostitution, all parties are advised not to picture public servents in any manner which could conflict with there impartiality to the public.
Kent Police have also made clear that they remain politically impartial. However the picture of the police on the front of the leaflet, whether with permission from the individual officers or not (and that will be checked), could be considered to be endorsing of a particular candidate over other individuals standing for election. It will be interesting to know whether the Police invited, or were invited by the Conservatives, and whether they were aware that Andrew was a candidate in a forthcoming byelection in a marginal ward, where Kent Police had been accused of 'bullying' former Cllr Craggs.
In one sense, residents will welcome the fact that the leaflet is more positive then the last scathing publication. It is with tongue-in-cheek irony that the Tories have entitled it 'Positive campaigning in River Ward.' Even by their own levels of distortion, they can not believe that the Conservative campaign has been anything up to now, wholly negative.
Juxtapose the press coverage of the River Ward Conservatives with that of John Jones, the Labour candidate. John has presented a professional and courteous campaign highlighting the problems in the ward and working with people. He will continue that theme when he meets people on St Mary's Island this week.
As postal votes land on the doorsteps of River voters this leaflet is clearly designed to give comfort that there is no war between the Police and the Conservatives. That is a wise political strategy and should they win a necessary one, but the leaflet does, like those previous, play to the notion that the Conservatives are flying very close to the wire.
It also does not silence the opinion that in seeking to win in River, the Tories have played a campaign that has been ill-conceived from the first leaflet. Targeting the police throughout and now bear-hugging them only serves to remind the public of why this whole sorry saga begun.
To picture public servants with candidates during an election period is poor practice. Questions should be asked.
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