Open Letter to Independent Candidates - 27/04/08

Dear Independent Candidate,

We refer to the advertisement published in the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star this week on behalf of 'Independent' candidates.  This advertisement is clearly election material, and as such should explicitly state who has promoted it, and on behalf of whom.  The advertisement clearly does not conform to this requirement.  Failure to meet this requirement is an offence under the electoral legislation, carrying a fine of up to £5,000 for each person involved.  We are reporting this matter to the police, in accordance with the guidance to candidates issued by the Electoral Commission (paragraph 3.39), and are asking them to investigate with a view to prosecuting all the candidates who are involved in this advertisement. 

We also believe the reference to a Plaid AM in the advert constitutes libel and are referring this matter to our lawyers for consideration.

Perhaps you would care to confirm whether or not you are part of the group behind this advertisement, so that we can ensure that our complaint refers to the correct persons.

We trust that you will respond to this communication with the urgency it deserves, and if you are a member of the group behind the advertisement, we trust you will tell us to which of the Plaid AMs does the advert refer, and on what grounds do you say that he/she “was in favour of taking away a provision delivered by the County Council for vulnerable children in Carmarthenshire”. If you are not able to substantiate this immediately we expect a full apology well advertised in good time before next Thursday’s election.

Yours Faithfully

Dyfrig Thomas 

Communications Officer 

For and on behalf of Carmarthenshire’s Plaid Cymru Group of Councillors