Tories accused of losing police time in bid to keep away from native election defeat

The Tories have been accused of wasting police time in a last-ditch bid to avoid an embarrassing defeat in a crucial mayoral election.

Labour’s Richard Parker is challenging Tory West Midlands mayor Andy Street in tomorrow’s local elections, and polls show the race is too close to call. And today it was reported Birmingham Northfield MP Gary Sambrook had reported Mr Parker to West Midlands Police claiming he’d made a false statement on his nomination form.

Yardley MP Jess Phillips said: “Whilst victims are, in some cases, waiting weeks for a police response this politically motivated gesture is a gross waste of police time. Andy Street should be utterly ashamed that his campaign has descended into a political farce of desperation. The only way to end this Conservative chaos is to vote for Richard Parker tomorrow.”

To be eligible to stand in the election, candidates must either be registered to vote in the area, have lived or worked in the area or occupied property in the area for a year.

They only have to fulfil one of the criteria – it doesn’t matter which one. The Mirror understands Mr Parker has lived and worked in the area for 40 years and is registered to vote there – fulfilling two of the four criteria.

His business, RP Strategy has been based in Solihull since June 2022 – which alone makes him eligible – and has worked with clients in the West Midlands since 2017. While he only moved into his current flat in Birmingham city centre recently, he’s still a registered voter whose company has been based the West Midlands for years.

In a letter to the local Chief Constable, Mr Sambrook accused Mr Parker of making a “false statement” on the form by listing his Birmingham flat as his address, rather than a house in Worcestershire he’s owned since 2005. But that would only be the case if he relied on residency to be eligible to stand, which he doesn’t.

A Labour source added: “It is demonstrably untrue to say that Richard has done anything wrong. Andy Street is getting his Conservative cronies to write letters claiming all sorts of untruths and lies to try and cling on to power – he should be absolutely ashamed! It is gutter politics from a failed Conservative Party who can’t stand on their record. Tomorrow a vote for Richard is a vote for a fresh start.”

The Conservative Party said it was a “matter for the police”.

West Midlands Police said it would not be accurate to say a live investigation was underway. They said: “We can confirm that we have received an allegation and are currently assessing it.”