BOLTON’S Labour group is considering taking legal action against Tory leader Cllr David Greenhalgh — accusing him of 'manipulative mud-slinging' in a row over postal votes.

Cllr Greenhalgh penned a letter in The Bolton News last week which suggested that the addition of more than 300 names to the late postal vote register for tomorrow’s Crompton by-election could have been secured by 'undue pressure' being placed on residents by politicians.

Labour said it is 'extremely disappointed' by the Bromley Cross Councillor’s allegations and senior group figures Cllrs Linda Thomas, Nick Peel and Guy Harkin have written a letter in response, which can be read in its entirety on the next page.

The letter comes after Greater Manchester Police revealed it will be looking into the concerns raised by Cllr Greenhalgh.

Labour’s statement reads: “We are extremely disappointed that the leader of the Bolton Conservative Party would make such outrageous and false accusations of undue pressure and coercion without a single piece of evidence to justify his unsubstantiated allegations.

“As the electoral agent for the Conservative Party candidate, Ryan Haslam, Cllr Greenhalgh has resorted to manipulative mud-slinging to win votes.

“He has, with his wild and baseless allegations, failed to comply with the Electoral Commission’s Code of Conduct for Campaigners and we will be looking at pursuing this matter further with the Electoral Commission and through legal channels.”

Labour has repeated its commitment to fair and democratic campaigning in elections and to the code of conduct, while reiterating that increasing postal voter numbers is a 'legitimate' part of any election campaign.

The statement adds: “Members of the Labour Party have been working the streets of Crompton since the start of January 2016. We have knocked on over 3,000 doors canvassing, leafleting, connecting with voters and listening to their concerns.

“Our teams — of up to 30 people at a time — have been seen across the ward and, contrary to Cllr Greenhalgh’s unfounded allegations, they have not discriminated in favour of or against any community.”

Responding, Cllr Greenhalgh said: “Can I remind the Labour Party that in my original letter I made no allegation about any individual or party, yet the Labour Party now seem fit to respond with a letter of an intimidatory and threatening style.

“I completely accept that increasing postal voter numbers is a legitimate part of any election, as I stated in my original letter, but the addition of over 300 postal vote applications delivered en bloc by one person to the Town Hall just before the deadline does warrant concern — and if I have concerns, which now are shared by the Lib Dems and UKIP, I have every right, and indeed duty, to voice them.”

He raised the question as to why 98 per cent of the late postal vote applications were from the Asian community and from just three of the seven areas in Crompton, before adding: “For everybody's peace of mind, this should be investigated and I am disappointed at the vehement reaction to this issue from the Labour Party.”

Cllr Greenhalgh has spoken with Bolton Det Insp Charlotte Cadden about the issue and she confirmed she will be contacting the Electoral Registration Officer and conducting some enquiries into his concerns.

The candidates standing for election in Crompton are Bilkis Bashir-Ismail(Lab), Ryan Haslam (Con), Paul Eccles (UKIP), Garry Veevers (Lib Dem) and Laura Diggle (Green).