TUSC Liverpool mayoral candidate Roger Bannister objects to censorship

Roger Bannister speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan

Roger Bannister speaking, NSSN 8th annual conference, 5.7.14, photo Senan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Merseyside Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition is recording its opposition to a Liverpool City Council election office decision to veto a section in Roger Bannister’s election address which refers to “Liverpool Labour”.

The rules disallow any personal reference to a political opponent, but do not disallow reference to a political party.

We strongly object to an unelected official, employed and paid by Liverpool taxpayers, censoring legitimate political expressions of opinion.

Why doesn’t the council want the city to know that it’s Labour making the cuts, when they are? What have Labour got to hide, except their shame? And why is the election office covering for the mayor again?

Due to lack of time before the election address submission deadline, Roger was reluctantly forced to accept this blatant interference with his election address. But his team will be seeking assurances that this undermining of the democratic process will not be repeated in future elections.