Bolton Council: Labour candidate suspended for 'taking leaflet'

John Gillat, the Labour candidate for Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, has been suspended by the party after being accused of taking election material out of a letterbox which belonged to Independent Choice candidate Gordon Campbell.

In a video filmed by Mr Campbell, Mr Gillat apparently admits to having done so.

Speaking to The Bolton News Mr Campbell said: “He is trying to undermine local democracy, ignoring the principles of integrity and fairness by seeking to corrupt the democratic process.  

"It is little wonder that seven out of every ten registered voters have simply decided to give up on voting altogether when this is the type of candidate offered by one of the mainstream parties.”  

All out elections are being held for Bolton Council (Image: Newsquest)

The video shows Mr Campbell confronting Mr Gillatt while the pair of them campaign in the ward.

When Mr Campbell accuses him of stealing leaflets, Mr Gillatt is heard to say “I don't deny it” and “You can report me to the electoral commission if you like.”

Mr Campbell said he called on the borough’s Labour Group leader, Cllr Nick Peel, to remove Mr Gillatt as a candidate.

Independent Choice candidate Gordon Campbell (Image: Gordon Campbell)

He said: “Such actions must legitimately, bring into question the suitability of this candidate's personal ethics, and moral compass, which now identify him as an utterly unfit person, to represent the good people of Bolton.  

"If he is so willing to be this dishonest from the outset of these local elections, heaven knows what he and his party are capable of should they become the majority party in our town's council chamber.

"The people of Bolton deserve far more and far better than this.”

Cllr Peel said he brought the matter to the party’s regional headquarters and asked for the Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor candidate to be suspended.

As of this week, Mr Gillatt has been suspended by the Labour Party.

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Cllr Peel said: “John is a very well-known and experienced candidate so he should have known better.

“I’ve apologised to Gordon, he’s apologised to Gordon and I’ve taken it to regional and asked that he be suspended.

“I can now confirm they have done that, and it shows that we do not accept this kind of behaviour from our candidates.”

Though Mr Gillatt has been suspended he will still appear on ballot papers on polling day but if elected he will not sit as a member of the Labour group.

Voters in Bolton will go to the polls in the all-out council elections to elect councillors for 60 seats across 20 wards on May 4.

Mr Gillatt has apologised to Mr Campbell personally for his actions but does not wish to comment further.