A WIRRAL councillor has been forced to apologise to the woman he defeated in May’s elections for “misleading claims” in his Labour Party leaflet.

Cllr Darren Dodd, a Liscard Labour councillor and member of Angela Eagle’s staff, has also paid the £3,500 legal costs of former Conservative party candidate, Leah Fraser.

The leaflet distributed by the Labour Party claimed Ms Fraser was a supporter of fox hunting and saw this as a priority.

Ms Fraser said: “This was completely untrue. It followed repeated claims on other issues – such as the future of Sure Start and the Winter Fuel Payments – and that’s why I decided to act.

“Anyone who goes into politics expects some ‘rough and tumble’, but to basically make up claims about your opponent crosses the line and Cllr Dodd’s solicitors recognised that. I believe my views were distorted in order to give Labour electoral advantage.

“The electorate has a right to know the views and opinions of candidates asking for their vote. Labour’s campaign in Wallasey misled the electorate over this issue, and I am pleased they have finally apologised to me.”

In his letter to Ms Fraser, Cllr Dodd said: “We accept that this was a completely unfounded submission. To imply that you would campaign for repeal of the fox hunting ban was both misleading and highly offensive and we can only hope that you will accept our sincere and unreserved apologies.

“We solemnly undertake not to repeat the aforementioned defamatory statements or make any further statements whether in print, electronic form or otherwise of this nature in the future.”

Ms Fraser added: “In the six months since the election my solicitors, Hill Dickinson, have sought a speedy conclusion to this case. I have not sought ‘damages’ – I simply wanted an apology and guarantee from Wallasey Labour Party that they will not resort to such tactics in future.”

As part of the settlement, the Labour Party will also print a statement retracting their remarks in a leaflet to be delivered in the constituency.

Labour’s Darren Dodd said last night: “The result in May was a bitter blow to Ms Fraser. Not only did she lose her council seat but she was heavily defeated as the Conservative parliamentary candidate, too. For months, her lawyers have pursued me over the contents of an election leaflet.

“There is no getting away from the fact that Tory policy prior to the election was to allow a free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act, but we now know that Ms Fraser did not support the repeal.

“I have apologised to Ms Fraser and wish her all the best as she gets used to a life outside of politics.”