By-election Tory faces inquiry

The Tory candidate in tomorrow's Brent East by-election is under investigation by a council watchdog for alleged abuse of her position, it emerged today.

Uma Fernandes, a Brent councillor, faces a charge that she used her town hall fax and email facilities, paid for by taxpayers, as contact details on a Tory election website.

A Liberal Democrat councillor lodged a formal complaint with the Standards Board for England, which oversees local government ethics. It said it would carry out a full inquiry after its referrals unit decided there was a case to answer.

Although the alleged offence is minor, the probe will embarrass the Tories and comes as their latest setback in a by-election contest in which they risk slumping to an embarrassing third place.

Since campaigning began, the Tories have seen one of their Brent councillors defect to the Lib-Dems, while their candidate unwisely admitted to a newspaper that she stands little chance of winning.

Two big guns who joined the campaign, Theresa May and Oliver Letwin, have struck a gloomy note about the Conservatives' position locally and nationally.

Despite finishing second in the seat at the last election, the Tories are quoted by bookies as 25-1 long shots to win tomorrow, while the Lib-Dems have surged to stand as joint favourites with Labour.

Lib-Dem councillor Havard Hughes, who lodged the complaint, said: "I don't think hard-pressed residents will tolerate anyone trying to use town hall facilities, paid for out of council tax, to help fight a parliamentary by-election."

Guidelines for councillors from the Standards Board warn: "You must make sure you do not use the authority's resources for political purposes."

However, the Tories accused the Lib-Dems of making a petty complaint. A spokesman said: "Anyone who knows Uma Fernandes knows she is honest."