Candidate at centre of register row

LABOUR have accused Tony Lit, Conservative by-election candidate for Southall, of being unregistered to vote.

Joan Ryan MP, Labour's vice chair of campaigns, has said that Tony is not registered to vote at his home in Chiswick.

She has written to Tory campaign chief George Osbourne demanding an explanation.

In the letter she says: "How can Tony Lit credibly ask anyone in Ealing Southall to vote for him when he has not bothered to register to vote himself?

"Can you please tell me when Tony Lit intends to register to vote?

"On hearing that Tony Lit had been imposed on them, local Tory Party members were soon asking Who is Tony Lit?' "When local residents in Ealing Southall realise that the Tory who wants their vote does not have a vote of his own they too will soon be asking Who is Tony Lit?'"

But the Tories have hit back angrily at the claims saying that Mr Lit is registered to vote - but under his full name.

Grant Shapps MP has responded to Joan Ryan's letter insisting she make a public apology for the claims.

In the letter he says: "In your letter you claim that Mr Lit is not on the electoral register.

"You are wrong. Tony's full name is Surinderpal Singh Lit. He has voted in every single general election since he was 18 years of age.

"As you will be aware, it is an illegal practice under electoral law to publish a false statement regarding a candidate, and now that you've been made aware of your error, please confirm that you will now issue a public apology for mistakenly inferring that our candidate is not on the electoral register."
Ealing Times