Tory candidate forced to step down (From Warrington Guardian)

Tory candidate forced to step down

9:34am Thursday 19th April 2012 in News

AN election candidate has had to step down after the council found he was living 109 metres outside of the boundary limit.

Conservative candidate Michael Foxall was due to stand in next month’s Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council election but now wants to explain to residents why they will not be able to vote for him after believing he is the victim of ‘dirty tricks’.

An extra 109 metres means Mr Foxall is outside of the three-mile parish council boundary limit.

The 57-year-old, who lives on St Mary’s Close, Appleton, and would have been able to stand if he lived on the other side of his road, said he was very disappointed.

He added: “I had checked and thought I was within the boundary but then the Electoral Commission said they had a complaint last week from someone who had checked the distance digitally.

“I knew I was right on the border as the crow flies but believed I was within three miles from the last point of Westbrook.

“I have done the honourable thing and stepped down but I would like people to know why.”

Mr Foxall said he thought somebody must have been ‘really scared’ of him to check the distance and report it to the Electoral Commission and described it as ‘petty’.

He added: “My message to people in Westbrook is it was my mistake and I hold my hands up that I perhaps should have checked but I didn’t realise I would have to go to that extreme. I will still be standing for Westbrook for the borough elections.”

There will be no election for the parish council as not enough candidates agreed to stand.

l More election news on page 12.