Leading Liverpool councillor loses appeal over ‘dirty tactics’

Apr 8 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

A LEADING Liverpool councillor was condemned by a judge for “dirty tactics of the worst kind” as he upheld his conviction for breaking election law.

Lib-Dem Steve Hurst was convicted in December of delivering a leaflet entitled “Walton Scab,” attacking sitting Labour councillor Pauline Walton and her firefighter husband in the May, 2007, council elections.

Masquerading as a leaflet from The United Socialist Party, the pink flier accused Mr Walton of crossing a Fire Brigades Union picket line.

At the end of a two-day case at Liverpool Crown Court, Cllr Hurst’s appeal was dismissed.

Judge Mark Brown said: “This sort of conduct brings considerable discredit on his party and local politicians in general.

“This was dirty tactics of the worst kind.”