Tories complain nationally - yet they are doing the same locally!

3.55.32pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrats on the County Council are as annoyed at the way "purdah" regulations and advice are being ignored, as the Tories claim to be nationally.

Tory-run Hertfordshire County Council is going to be distributing their 3 times a year magazine Hertfordshire Horizons during the period leading up to the election. It will tell residents about their agenda and make claims how well they are doing. The only thing they will not do is mention the words Conservative or Tory.

As the Liberal Democrats repeatedly pointed out the magazine is not time critical: there is no reason it could not be distributed after elections the 1st May. The magazine's printing and paid for delivery is paid at a cost of £65,000 to the tax payer.

Government issues guidance at the beginning of every election period. The purdah date this year was set to run from April 10th. Only time critical information and consultations should go out between this date and polling day.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Chris White said: 'Nationally the Tories are being outspoken and very critical of the Labour Government and in particular Jacqui Smith for breaking the guidelines. Yet locally they say that it is just "promotional material". Any promotional material is bound to be positive and political as councils deliver political agendas.

'We will be looking to get the cost of this publication added to the election expenses of every Tory candidate in this May's election. We will be referring the council to Communities and Local Government.'