The Tory candidate in this week’s Wakefield by-election does not live in the city, despite claiming his Labour rival was “parachuted in.”
Nadheem Ahmed, a Conservative councillor, has said he was “born and bred” in the West Yorkshire City.
And party chairman Oliver Dowden has repeatedly described him as a “real local voice for Wakefield.”
But the Sunday Mirror understands Mr Ahmed actually lives in Sandal.
Official polling papers show he has recorded his address as "Wakefield", despite it falling in the leafy satellite district - which sits in the neighbouring constituency of Hemswsorth.
Last week Mr Ahmed raised eyebrows for urging locals not to be put off voting Tory, because people ‘still trust GPs after Harold Shipman.’
He’s running to replace Tory Imran Ahmed Khan, who quit as an MP after being convicted of groping a teenage boy.
Mr Ahmed has repeatedly suggested his Labour rival Simon Lightwood isn’t local to the area, even claiming he "couldn't even get round the district without Google Maps".
But Mr Lightwood - originally from South Shields - has lived in Wakefield for 10 years and campaigned in the city for two decades.
Locals told the Mirror the Conservatives are running a "divisive" campaign, which seeks to isolate communities.
Richard Flemming, a retired NHS trainer said: "We have moved on from the division. Brexit is done. Why can't they see that. What are the Tories promising us?"
On Thursday, Mr Ahmed said his predecessor, who was jailed last month, was “one bad apple”.
He said: “He’s in prison, which is the right place. As a teacher, a father, and as a human being, what he did was wrong.
“He has been convicted of that offence, and I cannot stand here and say that was right. It was absolutely disgusting. And the people of Wakefield know that he was one bad apple.”
Mr Ahmed added: “Harold Shipman committed suicide in Wakefield prison. He was a GP, he was a trusted professional, just like teachers and others.
“Have we stopped trusting GPs? No, we still trust GPs and we know that he was one bad apple in there.”
NOTE: This story originally stated Mr Ahmed lived in Horbury - which is within the Wakefield constituency. This was incorrect. In fact, he lives in Sandal, which is in neighbouring Hemswsorth. We are happy to correct the error.
