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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ridicule over 'vote Labour' plea | Ridicule over 'vote Labour' plea |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Labour has been ridiculed for sending out campaign leaflets urging people to vote for the party in a local election in which it is not standing. | Labour has been ridiculed for sending out campaign leaflets urging people to vote for the party in a local election in which it is not standing. |
| The name of Scottish leader Iain Gray is also misspelled in the pamphlet. | The name of Scottish leader Iain Gray is also misspelled in the pamphlet. |
| The mistake came about after the party noticed its candidate in Angus Council's Monifieth and Sidlaw ward lived just outside the council border. | The mistake came about after the party noticed its candidate in Angus Council's Monifieth and Sidlaw ward lived just outside the council border. |
| He was therefore ineligible to stand, but by that time a leaflet distribution company had already been hired. | He was therefore ineligible to stand, but by that time a leaflet distribution company had already been hired. |
| It was also too late to find a new candidate to stand in the 25 June council by-election. | It was also too late to find a new candidate to stand in the 25 June council by-election. |
| The seat was made vacant following the death of SNP councillor Frank Ellis in April. | The seat was made vacant following the death of SNP councillor Frank Ellis in April. |
| 'Complete disarray' | 'Complete disarray' |
| Angus Labour councillor and depute provost, Peter Murphy, said the mix-up with the leaflet, which referred to the Scottish Labour leader as "Ian Gray" was "a big cock-up" and they apologised for it. | Angus Labour councillor and depute provost, Peter Murphy, said the mix-up with the leaflet, which referred to the Scottish Labour leader as "Ian Gray" was "a big cock-up" and they apologised for it. |
| He added that it was a genuine mistake on their part, rather than an attempt to confuse voters. | He added that it was a genuine mistake on their part, rather than an attempt to confuse voters. |
| An SNP spokesman said: "This is one of the worst leaflets I've ever seen, in terms of its content and appearance, even the name of the Labour leader is misspelled. | An SNP spokesman said: "This is one of the worst leaflets I've ever seen, in terms of its content and appearance, even the name of the Labour leader is misspelled. |
| The name of Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray was also misspelled | The name of Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray was also misspelled |
| "Labour's organisation in Angus is clearly shambolic. This leaflet has been widely distributed and continues to be distributed calling on people to vote for their Labour candidate - although they have failed to find anyone to stand for them in the by-election. | "Labour's organisation in Angus is clearly shambolic. This leaflet has been widely distributed and continues to be distributed calling on people to vote for their Labour candidate - although they have failed to find anyone to stand for them in the by-election. |
| "It is no surprise, that after the SNP's stunning result in the European elections last week, their candidates should start to go AWOL. Their party is in meltdown all across Scotland." | "It is no surprise, that after the SNP's stunning result in the European elections last week, their candidates should start to go AWOL. Their party is in meltdown all across Scotland." |
| The Liberal Democrats said: "It is disappointing that Labour were unable to field a candidate but it is equally disappointing that the SNP are more focused on national bickering than talking about local issues." | |
| They added that the Lib Dems were focussed on what was best for Monifieth and the Sidlaws, which was "a positive issue-based campaign, not scoring cheap political points". | |
| Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative deputy leader, added: "Labour is in meltdown, complete disarray. | Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative deputy leader, added: "Labour is in meltdown, complete disarray. |
| "The party is clearly still in shock from its appalling performance in the European and local government elections. There is no direction and no vision from a fatally undermined prime minister. | "The party is clearly still in shock from its appalling performance in the European and local government elections. There is no direction and no vision from a fatally undermined prime minister. |
| "This aimless lack of direction and complete inability to function properly is evidently filtering down to all levels in the Labour Party - how else can you explain delivering campaign literature for a non-existent candidate?" | "This aimless lack of direction and complete inability to function properly is evidently filtering down to all levels in the Labour Party - how else can you explain delivering campaign literature for a non-existent candidate?" |