Conservative County Councillor Tom Wilson of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has been forced to resign after flagrantly violating established election rules which prevented employees of that council from being candidates.

“The Conservative in question was none other than the newly elected mayor of Nuneaton,” BNP councillor Martyn Findley told BNP News.

“The rules state clearly that no employee is allowed to stand as a candidate for election to Warwickshire County Council if they are an employee of the council. At the time of his nomination, Mr Wilson was still employed by the County Council.

“This made his candidacy illegal and after it came out, he was faced with one of two options: either resign immediately or face a police investigation and possible prosecution for electoral fraud.” Mr Wilson took the first option and resigned after just three days in office.

Cllr Findley said that the cost to the taxpayer of a county council by-election is in the region of £20,000.

“There is a lot that can be done with £20,000 I can tell you,” Cllr Findley said. “What makes this all the worse is that Mr Wilson knew the rules before he agreed to stand as candidate. He has been a member of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council on and off for thirty years. He has served on the Standards Committee and has previously been a County Councillor.

“It would be beyond belief for him to claim that he was not aware of either the circumstances or the rules. Now the taxpayer has to bear the £20,000 costs and the inconvenience of another election because a Conservative thought that he could get away with it,” Cllr Findley said.

“We are now starting a campaign to win the Arbury and Stockingford seat on Warwickshire County Council. Watch this space.”