Lib Dem councillor pleads not guilty to breaking election law

Jan 28 2008 By David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A LEADING Liberal Democrat councillor has pleaded not guilty to breaking election law and his case has been adjourned.

Liverpool Lib-Dem chief whip Cllr Steve Hurst denied promoting election material which did not have the relevant details on the face of it at the city’s Magistrates court this morning.

The accusation relates to material allegedly handed out in the city’s Belle Vale ward on May 2, 2007 prior to last year’s local election.

Cllr Hurst, 43, of Swallow Close will appear again in court on Monday, March 10.

If found guilty, he faces a fine of up to £5,000.

Cllr Hurst is accused of breaching section 110(9) Representation of the People Act 1983.

The section requires election publicity material to include an imprint detailing the name and address of the printer and publisher of the material.