Ex-Tory chairman fails to say social gathering wherever on election leaflet
A former Tory chairman has failed to put the word “Conservative” anywhere on his election leaflet.
Greg Hands mentioned “Labour” 10 times on the flyer, but did not include the party he is standing for even in the small print. The ex-Cabinet minister is seeking re-election as the MP for Chelsea and Fulham.
Despite serving as Conservative chairman for part of Rishi Sunak’s time as PM, he seemed too ashamed of the party to use its name on his literature.
The Trade Minister describes himself as having a “strong local record of action” and suggested voters make a “local choice”.
Asked about his avoidance of the word “Conservative”, Mr Hands said: “Everyone knows I am with the Conservatives.”
It comes as the Mirror revealed yesterday that fellow Tory minister Bim Afolami also had not mentioned the word “Conservative” on an election leaflet. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is standing in the new constituency of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, which has a notional majority of 11,264 votes.
His flyer, which is green on the outside, claims that “more and more people in Hitchin are backing Bim Afolami in the election on July 4”. It states he is “the candidate with a record of delivery”, but nowhere does it say what party he is standing for.
Mr Afolami said: “This was an endorsement leaflet with local people talking about my record as a local constituency MP. I have delivered many different ones.” He said that others had “the word Conservative on the front”.
Mr Afolami, who is an Old Etonian, was first elected as the MP for Hitchin and Harpenden in 2017. Ahead of the 2005 election, he told the Telegraph that he intended to vote Labour while a student at Oxford.
A number of Tory candidates have appeared reluctant to plaster the party’s branding all over their leaflets as it has struggled in the polls. Many have used green colour schemes instead of its traditional blue.
Robert Largan, who is seeking re-election in High Peak, last month faced criticism for campaign material that made it appear as if he is standing for Labour. He posted on social media a picture of his face superimposed on to a red background along with the slogan “Labour for Largan”.
