ALTON'S Liberal Democrats are calling for the resignation of Conservative candidate, Stewart Glasgow, following an alleged smear campaign which they believe could have severely influenced the outcome of last week's county council election.
The allegation concerns the distribution of a campaign leaflet by Mr Glasgow pointing out that Lib Dem opponent, Tony Ludlow, was chairman of the trust which demolished part of Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital to make way for three extra parking spaces and making it more difficult to re-open.
A swift response by the Lib Dems sought to put the record straight by pointing out that the Treloar Hospital buildings had been demolished on the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health.
Tony Ludlow, who was chairman of the Loddon Community Health Trust at the time, was not responsible for the decisions taken on the future of Treloars, they said.
"Stewart Glasgow's leaflet was a pack of lies and amounted to a deliberate attempt to mislead the electorate of Alton," said fellow Lib Dem candidate, Jerry Janes who believes it puts into question the integrity of the local Conservative party.
"I urge them to conduct an inquiry into the incident and believe that Stewart Glasgow should have the party whip withdrawn. If he had any integrity at all he should apologise to the people of Alton."
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Bob Booker was equally incensed. But, he said, while the Conservative leaflet had been dropped on the Wednesday prior to polling, his party workers had managed to get a rebuttal printed, drafted and designed by Tony Ludlow, and out on the streets that night and first thing on Thursday morning. "It was a tough fight," said Mr Booker, "but worth the effort."
In response, Stewart Glasgow said he felt his leaflet to be "totally factual, to the point and representative of the position when Tony Ludlow was chairman of the Loddon Trust."
It was, he said, a direct response to the Lib Dems' 'Focus' magazine which had failed to mention Mr Ludlow's connection with the Loddon Trust and he felt that it was only fair to inform the electorate of that fact.
"For them to make an issue now is pointless. Residents of Alton have got a copy of both leaflets and have already made up their own minds on the issue," he said.
As for Tony Ludlow's success in taking the Alton seat in the county elections, Mr Glasgow said he believed it was "a very fair election and a credit to both parties' workers.
"In balance the result was fair and knowing Tony as I do I think he will make an excellent representative."