Tory Highways Smear Scandal Hots Up

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Apr 2009

The Liberal Democrats have today reacted with anger to the continuing smear campaign directed at them by the Conservatives in Hertfordshire.

Various leaflets and publications and leaflets have been produced by the Conservative Party, throughout Hertfordshire, which continue to allege that the Liberal Democrats have proposed a cut in highways spending. When the formal Lib Dem amendment was made public, they seemed to change tack and have now suggested that the proposed 'cut' was in the speech of Liberal Democrat Leader Chris White.

The Conservative Party has, however, made a fatal error in forgetting that speeches at full council are recorded.

Chris White said today: 'The speech could not have been clearer. A £5.5 million increase in highways spending funded in part by a £3 million saving in procurement costs. In other words - spending more money overall and making sure that the existing spending goes further.'

'We have now made this available to the media and will be writing to all Conservative councillors in the county, all Conservative MPs and party chairs, warning them of the consequences of repeating this libel.'

A letter is already on its way to Cllr Chris Hayward of Three Rivers District Council who repeated the libel in front of witnesses at a Three Rivers District Council meeting this week. The letter warns him that he faces investigation by the Standards Board for England should he fail to retract and publicly apologise.

Chris added: 'It goes without saying that we are sick and tired of this desperate smear and are talking to lawyers. I would warn any Conservative Party activist that they could be personally liable should they deliver leaflets or letters containing defamatory material.'