Smear Row Hits Saddleworth Campaign

The battle between Labour and the Liberal Democrats in Oldham East and Saddleworth is getting increasingly bitter, with allegations from a former Lib Dem worker that she was paid just £3 an hour cash-in-hand for helping the Elwyn Watkins campaign. Mr Watkins strongly denied the claims yesterday when he was confronted by BBC Newsnight political editor Michael Crick in Shaw.

The woman who made the allegations, Rebecca McGladdery, is now helping the campaign of Labour’s Phil Woolas. She said she was one of four campaign workers who was paid less than the minimum wage for assisting Mr Watkins.

However, Mr Watkins has described the claims as a “smear campaign.” He told Newsnight that, “it’s a fictituous thing that emanates completely from Phil Woolas’ office, and it shows how desperate he is.” Labour has denied making a political smear.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was campaigning with Mr Watkins yesterday, and he said that the party only used volunteers, although he added: “I think we help people to eat some sandwiches at lunchtime.”

Ms McGladdery showed Newsnight a diary which she claims includes details of hours she worked for Mr Watkins, and how much she was paid. One page was apparently initialled by a member of the Lib Dem campaign team, Kevin Dawson, but he told Newsnight the initials had been forged.

Officers from Revenue and Customs are now investigating Ms McGladdery’s allegations.

To watch Michael Crick’s report from last night’s Newsnight, go here. The part about Oldham East and Saddleworth begins at 4:50.

I interviewed Elwyn Watkins on Tuesday, and that’s available to view here. An interview with Phil Woolas will appear on the site later today.

The other candidates so far confirmed for Oldham East and Saddleworth are Kashif Ali of the Conservatives and the BNP’s Alwyn Stott. I intend to interview them later in the campaign.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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