Police are being asked to investigate possible breaches of election law over residential addresses on forms given by a Salford councillor who is standing for election in the Cotswolds, a stone’s throw from King Charles’ Highgrove home. Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Twells represents the ward of Ordsall in Salford and is only due to stand for re-election there in 2026, but is also now standing as a candidate for Tetbury with Upton in the local elections on May 4.
In addition, Coun Twells also works as a professional election agent for the Lib Dems. Conservatives have asked the Cotswold District Council election monitoring officer Angela Clarridge to contact police over issues relating to multiple Lib Dem candidates who are using the same address. In a reply, Ms Clarridge has put them in direct contact with the Gloucestershire Constabulary, although a police spokesperson said they are yet to receive any complaints over the matter.
An open letter from the leader of Cotswold Conservatives Tony Berry to the Lib Dem council leader of Cotswold District Council Joe Harris has been posted on Facebook. The preamble says: “Apparently the LibDems have been unable to find sufficient local candidates to stand in Tetbury, so they have resorted to parachuting in their agent who is currently a serving city councillor in Salford near Manchester which is 153 miles away.
