A LEADING Liverpool councillor delivered “disgraceful” leaflets in a bungled attempt to smear political rivals, a judge ruled yesterday.
A LEADING Liverpool councillor delivered “disgraceful” leaflets in a bungled attempt to smear political rivals, a judge ruled yesterday.
Cllr Steve Hurst, the council’s executive member for corporate performance, was found guilty of breaching election law.
Last night Cllr Hurst, a firefighter, was facing calls that he stand down from his position on the council’s ruling executive board and as representative for Liverpool’s Wavertree ward.
He delivered a leaflet titled “Walton Scab” attacking sitting Labour councillor Pauline Walton and her firefighter husband Keith.
Sentencing, District Judge Richard Clancy said he had “no doubt” Cllr Hurst pushed the flier through letterboxes in Liverpool’s Woodlands Estate in the run-up to local elections in May, 2007.
Masquerading as a leaflet from The United Socialist Party (TUSP), the pink flier accused Mr Walton of crossing a Fire Brigades Union picket line during a strike.
Mrs Walton was accused of leaving council meetings early to learn lap dancing.
