EMILY THORNBERRY MP "DOCTORED" ELECTORAL COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

EMILY THORNBERRY MP "DOCTORED" ELECTORAL COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE

March 15, 2006 12:00 AM

Islington's Liberal Democrats have complained to Tony Blair that Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South & Finsbury, altered an official Electoral Commission news release about voter registration and sent it on the local press, as if it had come from the Commission alone.

She inserted the following quotation from herself into the electronic document, criticising Islington for allegedly having a low, 67% registration rate:

"Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said 'It's extremely worrying that only 67% have registered for Islington's May council elections as voting is the only way to have your voice heard'.

In fact, Islington electoral officials estimate that 90% of eligible adults are registered. The 67% referred to was the response rate to Islington's electoral registration forms and canvassing, as at 1st December 2005. The registration rate is higher because anyone who responded to the previous 2 years' electoral registration forms remains on the register. This error had been repeatedly pointed out to the MP and local Labour party members.

Copies of the Commission's news release, and the altered release, are attached, along with an e-mail from the Commission confirming the alteration.

The Electoral Commission itself has taken the matter up with the MP to express its "concern".

Now the Leader of Islington's Liberal Democrat Council, Cllr Steve Hitchins, is writing to Tony Blair to demand that he reprimands Ms Thornberry for compromising the independence and integrity of the Commission.

Cllr Hitchins said: "it's outrageous that Ms Thornberry thinks she can tamper with other people's documents, at all, but it is even worse that she tried to make it look as though the Commission was endorsing her inaccurate criticisms of the Lib Dem administration's excellent record on electoral registration in Islington.

"This has brought her office into disrepute and we hope that Tony Blair will reprimand her. Constituents should be able to trust their MPs but this has undermined that trust."

ENDS

Contacts: Cllr Steve Hitchins, Leader of Islington Council, tel 020 7527 3435

Cllr George Allan, Executive Member for Customer Focus : (including Electoral Services) : Tel 07837 747928

Notes to Editors

The Electoral Commission is a statutory body set up by the Labour Government in 2000 to oversee the democratic process, and in particular to promote "integrity, involvement and effectiveness" in our democracy.

The Commission issued its news release on 20th February, urging Islington voters to register by 13th March for the 4th May Council elections. It was accompanied by a photo of Ms Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn MP, but the only quotation it contained was from Peter Wardle, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission.

The press release was associated with a cross-party photocall of MPs in whose constituencies elections are being held on 4th May. Councillors were not invited but Cllr West, leader of Islington's opposition Labour group, nevertheless attended the session.

A courtesy copy was sent to Ms Thornberry, in electronic form. The Commission has told Cllr George Allan that:

" the release we issued did not include any mention of electoral registration issues specific to Islington, nor a quote from Emily Thornberry. The release was copied to her office for information and it appears a quote was added at that stage without our knowledge or permission. We have been in touch with Ms Thornberry to express our concern about this. "