Political rally at Guildhall
Conservative councillors are being investigated by council legal officers after using council facilities for an election visit to Kingston by Conservative Party leader David Cameron MP.
The 2 April meeting, which promoted a candidate in the London Mayoral Election, may have violated Kingston's Members' Code of Conduct on two counts.
Firstly, they stand accused of using council facilities improperly for political purposes. Secondly, they are accused for disregarding the Local Authorities Code of Publicity made under the Local Government Act 1986.
Broke the rules
Commenting on the investigation into David Cameron's event at the Guildhall, Cllr Derek Osborne (Leader of the Council) said:
"You simply can't use the Guildhall for political rallies. I've been a councillor for 22 years, and can't remember such a flagrant breach of the rules. David Cameron must be furious that the local Tories have dragged him into what looks like an illegal campaign rally.
"The rules are there to prevent the misuse of taxpayers' facilities to campaign for a political candidate. You can't pick and choose which electoral laws you obey, and this looks like a pretty open-and-shut case to me.
"The council's legal team are investigating this. If they don't refer the Conservatives to the Standards Board for England then I will."
Update
Council officers have now reported the Conservatives to the Standards Board for England.
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