Police have said there was no offence committed by three Perth and Kinross election candidates accused of posting false information on social media.
A complaint about the Conservative candidates was passed to the returning officer who forwarded this to police on Monday morning.
They referenced information Conservative candidates Andy Chan, Calum Milne and Noah Khogali posted on Facebook as part of their campaign for the upcoming local elections.
They claimed the Conservatives put forward the lowest council tax increase proposal at last week’s PKC budget-setting meeting.
The Conservative administration’s proposal of a 2.5% increase – which was voted through – was in fact the second lowest proposal. The Independent and Labour group – the council’s smallest political group – proposed a council tax freeze.
Labour councillor Alasdair Bailey’s complaint to the returning officer was forwarded to the police over concerns they breached the Representation of the People Act.
‘No offences have been identified’
But Police Scotland said this morning: “We can confirm a report was received and officers have liaised with the Electoral Commission.
“No offences have been identified and no further police action will be taken.”
A spokesperson for the Perth and Kinross Conservatives said on Monday: “(A) graphic was published following the setting of the council tax rates at Perth and Kinross Council last week. It depicted the three council tax increases along with a series of other graphics which illustrated aspects of how public money would be spent over the coming year. The council tax graphic showed the three main political parties and the rises which they proposed of which the Scottish Conservatives, at 2.5 per cent, was the lowest increase. To avoid any confusion the post has now been deleted.”
Voters will head to the polls on May 5 for the council elections.
