Today's most viewed
Inquiry as toddlers use Labour letter paper
 |
| NURSERY ROW: From left, councillors Bill Blenkinsopp, Tony Hogan and Paul Gittins |
 Buy this photo |
AN investigation has been
launched after pre-school toddlers
were given drawing paper
bearing Labour Party election
slogans.
Independent councillors accused
Labour of using the
youngsters for electioneering,
but Labour officials said they do
not know how the paper ended
up at the nursery.
Children from St Oswald's Pre-
School, in Newton Aycliffe,
County Durham, proudly took
artwork home to their parents
last week.
The pictures were drawn on
letterheaded Labour paper emblazoned
with a yellow tick and
a photograph of Sedgefield
Labour MP Phil Wilson.
Independent candidates in the
forthcoming County Durham
unitary council elections have
made a complaint against the
pre-school.
Bill Blenkinsopp, an independent
member of Great Aycliffe
and Sedgefield Borough Councils,
said: "For it to be sent home
to children's parents, I do not
think is right and proper. I think
it was a mistake by pre-school
staff and blatant electioneering
by Labour.
"If they are going to stoop to
that depth, it is time to call it a
day. It is almost desperate.
"I am obviously not against
the school having the paper, but
it should not have party slogans
on."
The paper was originally used
by Mr Wilson's campaign team during last year's by-election
when he replaced Prime Minister
Tony Blair in the seat.
But Mr Wilson and staff at his
constituency office in Newton
Aycliffe denied donating it to the
school and said it was Coun
Blenkinsopp who was using the
nursery for political gain.
Mr Wilson said: "I honestly
haven't a clue how the paper got
there.
"Those children are 15 or 16
years from voting. It is really sad
someone has to use such young
children for electioneering."
It is thought the paper was
dumped in a skip after the byelection,
so a well-meaning passer-
by could have picked it out to
recycle by donating it to the
school.
The nursery, which cares for
about 30 children, yesterday declined
to comment further about
how the paper came to be in its
possession.
Andrew Bailey, the town clerk
at Great Aycliffe Town Council,
which runs the centre, said: "We
have received a complaint and
are investigating."
8:35am Thursday 27th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Joan Mctigue, Middlesbrough on 10:26am Thu 27 Mar 08
to suggest that someone removed it from a skip and gave it to the school is about as far-fetched as I have ever heard. However, the skip is no doubt the best place for it! Somone knows the answer to this and I hope it's found. when it's found, I also hope it's not, as usual, swept under the carpet. If it was Independent election material, they would be winging their way to the S. Board for a grilling as usual.
to suggest that someone removed it from a skip and gave it to the school is about as far-fetched as I have ever heard. However, the skip is no doubt the best place for it! Somone knows the answer to this and I hope it's found. when it's found, I also hope it's not, as usual, swept under the carpet. If it was Independent election material, they would be winging their way to the S. Board for a grilling as usual.
Posted by: Dave J, Blackhall on 12:43pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Once again the political process is dragged through the dirt by those who should know better, on ALL sides. It is pathetic!
Once again the political process is dragged through the dirt by those who should know better, on ALL sides. It is pathetic!
Posted by: andrea, middlesbrough on 2:08pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I cannott believe you are arguing over children drawing on a piece of paper ??? My children love drawing and i would give them any paper i had to hand and if they came home with whoever on the back it wouldnt sway me to vote that person. You are basically using small children in your political campaign, and should be ashamed of yourself (independents). In fact if i was to vote for anyone of them parties now it definatley wouldnt be independents. They are pathetic and petty. And from what i know locally can only get votes by trying to blacken labours name.
I cannott believe you are arguing over children drawing on a piece of paper ??? My children love drawing and i would give them any paper i had to hand and if they came home with whoever on the back it wouldnt sway me to vote that person. You are basically using small children in your political campaign, and should be ashamed of yourself (independents). In fact if i was to vote for anyone of them parties now it definatley wouldnt be independents. They are pathetic and petty. And from what i know locally can only get votes by trying to blacken labours name.
Posted by: SS, Darlington on 2:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What rubbish. Someone has probably donated the paper to the school instead of chucking it out. You know, being environmentally friendly, like we are all encouraged to do. So what if it shows a slogan, the kids aren't gonna care. I'm sure it's not a plan by the labour party to brainwash children. People, get a life!
What rubbish. Someone has probably donated the paper to the school instead of chucking it out. You know, being environmentally friendly, like we are all encouraged to do. So what if it shows a slogan, the kids aren't gonna care. I'm sure it's not a plan by the labour party to brainwash children. People, get a life!
Posted by: goose_gander, abroad on 3:19pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Quite right SS. When will no-mark
'politicians' realise they are there to do a proper job not whinge constently about other people cheating? Crikey, I just realize I may have used old election leaflets to let my 2 year old child make into paper airplanes, I hope he doesn't vote for Milburn next time..........For heavens sake, he has more sense than to vote for any of the current shower (If he could read, which he can't).
Thank the lord for top quality councillors like Blenkinsopp, Hogan and Giddins. Political and intellectual giants, no doubts.....yeh right.
Quite right SS. When will no-mark
'politicians' realise they are there to do a proper job not whinge constently about other people cheating? Crikey, I just realize I may have used old election leaflets to let my 2 year old child make into paper airplanes, I hope he doesn't vote for Milburn next time..........For heavens sake, he has more sense than to vote for any of the current shower (If he could read, which he can't).
Thank the lord for top quality councillors like Blenkinsopp, Hogan and Giddins. Political and intellectual giants, no doubts.....yeh right.
Posted by: Yemen, darlington on 3:48pm Thu 27 Mar 08
the real disgrace here is bill blenkinsopps appaling wig, ive seen lego people with a move convincing syrup ! the toddlers probably wrote more sense on the paper than any political party of recent years anyway....
the real disgrace here is bill blenkinsopps appaling wig, ive seen lego people with a move convincing syrup ! the toddlers probably wrote more sense on the paper than any political party of recent years anyway....
Posted by: gail, darlington on 5:45pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What a load of fuss over nothing. I work at a playgroup and you have to watch every penny, drawing paper can be very expensive. We welcome old papers that can be recycled for the childrens use. We are all meant to think of the enviroment and recycle more. If the other political parties do not like it they could always donate their old papers so they can also be re-used! Please remember the children at playgroups are pre-school age and most of them can not read yet never mind be influenced in how they might vote in 15 years time!
What a load of fuss over nothing. I work at a playgroup and you have to watch every penny, drawing paper can be very expensive. We welcome old papers that can be recycled for the childrens use. We are all meant to think of the enviroment and recycle more. If the other political parties do not like it they could always donate their old papers so they can also be re-used! Please remember the children at playgroups are pre-school age and most of them can not read yet never mind be influenced in how they might vote in 15 years time!
Posted by: Gail, darlington on 5:52pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What a load of fuss over nothing. I work at a playgroup and you have to watch every penny, drawing paper can be very expensive. We welcome old papers that can be recycled for the childrens use. We are all meant to think of the enviroment and recycle more. If the other political parties do not like it they could always donate their old papers so they can also be re-used! Please remember the children at playgroups are pre-school age and most of them can not read yet never mind be influenced in how they might vote in 15 years time!
What a load of fuss over nothing. I work at a playgroup and you have to watch every penny, drawing paper can be very expensive. We welcome old papers that can be recycled for the childrens use. We are all meant to think of the enviroment and recycle more. If the other political parties do not like it they could always donate their old papers so they can also be re-used! Please remember the children at playgroups are pre-school age and most of them can not read yet never mind be influenced in how they might vote in 15 years time!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
