Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Edward Barnes

Tory election blunder leaves people footing the postage bill

Wirral's Conservative group have been forced to apologise after a mistake left local people having to pay to receive their election leaflets.

Leaflets for the upcoming Wirral Council elections were sent out by Conservative councillors Helen Cameron, Mary Jordan and Cherry Povall to people living in Brimstage, Raby and Thornton Hough on March 31.

However they were sent out with an incorrect postage stamp meaning that those living at targeted addresses would actually end up being charged for collecting the leaflets in the post from a depot.

READ MORE: 'Larger than life hero' dad killed on M62

One resident, who posted on Facebook to let people know about the blunder, said she and her family were charged £4.50 for three leaflets and made clear that she would like to be reimbursed.

She said: “Ourselves and our neighbours each received an 'insufficient postage' card via the postman on Friday. My mother-in-law took hers, ours and my brother-in-law’s to the depot to collect.

“We were due important mail so needless to say we aren't happy to have to pay the balance to receive this. Each A4 leaflet had only a 2nd class stamp on.

“Apparently there was a tub full ready to be collected.”

The resident suggested it was ironic that a mistake from the Tories meant she was charged to collect a leafelt in which they complained about Labour's financial management of the council.

One resident said: "It was quite tongue in cheek considering what was on the front page too" (Copyright Unknown)

Conservative councillors Helen Cameron, Cherry Povall, and Mary Jordan said: “We apologise to everyone affected by our mistake and to those who responded to a notification from the local sorting office.

“Although genuine barcode stamps were used, the value was not sufficient for the size of the envelope. As soon as a kind resident alerted us to the issue, we took steps to rectify the matter via the Royal Mail contact centre. Unfortunately, their advice was that there is no possibility of paying the shortfall to correct the error.

“We would urge any residents in and around the villages of Brimstage, Raby and Thornton Hough to contact us via officesouth@wirralconservatives.org.uk.”

READ NEXT:

Criminals serving city's longest sentences as Thomas Cashman jailed for 42 years

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's infectious laugh heard in newly released videos

Passenger dies on Jet2 flight after going to the toilet 'in distress'

Thomas Cashman's expensive lifestyle funded by the pain and misery he caused

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.