The chairman of North Herefordshire Conservatives has undertaken not to distribute any more newspaper-style election campaign leaflets following an outcry.

Hereford Times editor John Wilson had accused the party’s Herefordshire Champion, delivered recently to many households in the county, of “deliberately mimicking the look of an independent local newspaper”, and called for such publications to be banned.

The case is far from unique. During the last general election, the News Media Association complained about examples of “fake” newspapers distributed by all three main political parties.

Now the chairman of the Conservatives in the north of the county Dan Hurcomb has given a “personal guarantee” not to distribute any more “newspaper-style” campaign materials ahead of the election on May 4.

RELATED NEWS:

He had previously said that the Champion was not an attempt to mimic the Hereford Times in particular as it had been provided in template form by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).

His letter to Mr Wilson said he “would also be happy to raise your concerns directly with CCHQ in an attempt to have the templates changed”.

Mr Hurcomb also confirmed that the Conservatives would put forward candidates in all 25 wards within the North Herefordshire parliamentary constituency at the May 4 local elections, though the party has yet to name them.

OTHER NEWS:

“They are already working very hard to share our positive vision for real change in Herefordshire after a damaging four years of the Green-Independent Coalition,” Mr Hurcomb said.

He added the party is also “deeply concerned” about the “urgent and costly” structural works required at Hereford’s Courtyard theatre.

“We hope that all parties will join us in pledging to provide funding to address the outstanding repairs if we win back control of the council,” he said.

Hereford & South Herefordshire Conservatives have been asked if they too will be standing in all wards in the south of the county.

Hereford Times: