LABOUR have been accused of peddling “misinformation” in the run-up to two council by-elections in Scotland.
The party has created a website called I Will Vote which gives voters incorrect information about elections in parts of Glasgow later this week.
The site, which outlines in the small print that it is a Labour Party creation, could give voters the impression that Labour’s candidates are the incumbents, the Scottish Greens said.
It also tells voters they must bring ID with them on polling day – which is not the case for Scottish local elections.
Voters in the Southside Central and North East wards will go to the polls on Thursday 20 following the death of James Scanlon and the resignation of Maureen Burke (above), respectively.
Laura Vroomen, the Greens candidate for Southside Central, said that voter ID laws put people from “marginalised groups” at a disadvantage as they were the least likely to have the proper documents.
She told The National: “To suggest their candidates are the incumbents is misleading and undermines the importance of these local votes in our city. But telling voters they need ID is nothing short of misinformation.
“Those without ID are much more likely to be from marginalised groups, and this behaviour feeds into the same hostile environment that successive Tory governments, red and blue, have whipped up – failing to undo the damage of Conservative voter ID laws.”
Hayley McDonald, the Greens candidate in the North East ward, added: “Is it any wonder working class communities are turning to the far-right when the party of government has to resort to this to try and win a local by-election?
“Labour should be ashamed of these sneaky tricks, but the public have come to expect no better.”
Labour have faced separate allegations of misinformation in the run-up to Thursday's poll, after handing out leaflets which falsely claimed that the creation of GB Energy was "lowering bills".
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Glasgow has been let down for too long by the SNP and the Scottish Greens
“Scottish Labour is working tirelessly to deliver a new direction for Glasgow and give this fantastic city the champions it deserves.”
