A CONSERVATIVE candidate in the next week’s local elections has been left red-faced, after sending out hundreds of leaflets saying his priority would be to attract “unemployment”

to Great Lever.

In his leaflet to potential voters, Dr Anjani Kumar, the Great Lever candidate, lists his priorities should he get elected.

Alongside bringing greater transparency to the local council and regeneration, Dr Kumar lists “unemployment”.

Last night, he said: “When I saw the mistake, I just thought oh goodness, but there was nothing I could do about it.

“I don’t know how it happened, but I certainly will not be bringing unemployment to the area. I think people will know that it is an error, and seen the sense in it.”

He added: “It is a mistake which has called for uncalled trouble. I will be attracting employment to the area and am pleased with the support I have received.”

Embarrassed Tory chiefs also moved to play down the mistake.

Cllr Andy Morgan, who is co-ordinating the Party’s election campaign in Bolton South East, said Dr Kumar had realised the error and was trying to address it on the doorstep.

He said: “Dr Kumar is very enthusiastic and passionate about Great Lever and the work he wants to do for the people there.

“He wanted to get this leaflet out and unfortunately it has been sent out with a typo.

“No politician on the planet would want to bring unemployment to an area and what Dr Kumar wanted to say is that he would bring unemployment down. It is a typo error and he has been out on the streets addressing this with people.”

It is not the first election embarrassment this year.

The Bolton News has reported how the Labour candidate for Smithills, Sean Harkin, was forced deny he had signed up to a Facebook group which encouraged strangers to meet up for sex.

Mr Harkin, whose father Guy is a councillor for the Crompton ward, said a friend had signed him up as a joke.