Stockton Council accused of 'democratic interference' over delivery of political leaflets to high rise homes

A tower block tenant has accused Stockton Council of “democratic interference” over the delivery of political leaflets in the run up to the May elections.

A letter has been sent to residents of Kennedy Gardens, in Billingham, saying it is now council policy not to allow representatives of political parties into the high-rise blocks to post political leaflets or canvass.

The exception is “newsletters from serving councillors”.

Residents can return a form to the council to “opt in” to receive leaflets and canvassing from political parties if they wish.

But Kennedy Gardens resident Keith Dewison, himself a former Lib Dem Billingham councillor, said by allowing serving councillors to post newsletters gives them “a tremendous political advantage over their political opponents, where thousands of votes are involved”.

“I understand that most if not all of the blocks of flats are in Labour-controlled wards,” he said.

“My questions are, who decided to stop other political parties from posting their leaflets into the blocks? Was it a council official who has no right to interfere with the democratic process, or was it the council, which is mainly controlled by Labour councillors, to gain some political advantage in next May’s election?

“In any event this is a blatant interference in the democratic process.”

A spokesperson for Labour-led Stockton Council said: “We know that many of our residents choose to live in secure blocks of flats on the understanding that they will not be bothered by door-to-door callers and that’s why we have a year round policy of not allowing canvassing or sales representatives within the properties.

“However, in the run up to an election it is really important that all of the borough’s residents have an opportunity to receive leaflets and visits from representatives of political parties and that’s why we have written to all tenants living in high rise social housing to find out if they would like to have contact with political campaigners for the duration of the election period.”