Labour angry after campaign posters are removed from lampposts

Several election posters put up on lampposts in Lerwick by the Labour candidate in the Scottish parliamentary election have been removed.

Jamie Kerr said of nine Vote Labour signs put up along the Esplanade on Sunday afternoon and evening, seven had been taken down by this morning.

Mr Kerr described the removal of the posters as “theft” and called on his fellow candidates to condemn such “criminal behaviour”, although the party is not reporting the matter to the police.

“It is obviously very disappointing. The theft of our posters is unlawful and those responsible have broken the law. These are low tactics from rattled people who do not like being challenged. My team and I are now even more determined that folk in Shetland hear the Labour message and that we will not be silenced when speaking out loud against Lib Dem and Tory Coalition cuts to local services.

“In the interest of maintaining free speech and democracy, I call for the other candidates to condemn this type of criminal behaviour and I call for our posters to be returned to us.”

He said the party had decided not to go to the police in order that the focus of this campaign can be kept on the issues that really matter to people: the cost of fuel, jobs and the future of the islands’ local economy.