Prospective MP told to remove illegal advertising (From Enfield Independent)
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Prospective MP told to remove illegal advertising
7:20am Thursday 4th February 2010 in Top Stories By Hannah Crown
Andrew Charalambous was asked to remove the banner from outside his office
A PROSPECTIVE parliamentary MP has had to remove advertising from outside his office because it broke election rules.
Conservative candidate for Edmonton, Andrew Charalambous, was told by Enfield Council to remove a banner bearing the words “we say no to hospital cuts” with a box marked with “X” next to his name.
A helium balloon bearing the words “we believe” was also taken down from the grounds of the Conservative office, at West Way, off Silver Street, Edmonton.
A spokesman for the council’s legal team said: "Political advertisements can be displayed once an election has been called, however at this stage an election date has not been set. As a result the council was obliged to ensure the law was applied in a fair and transparent way and the adverts were taken down."
Andrew Charalambous, a property developer estimated to be worth about £100m, said the move was a “sad day for freedom of speech and democracy”.
He said: “The Labour Party in Edmonton [who reported the advertising] should be less concerned about four or five information boards and more concerned about the issues affecting the everyday lives of ordinary people from Edmonton, like myself."
He added: “This is why we have to end ping pong politics.”
Labour councillor and Haselbury representative George Savva, who said he was made aware of the banners by residents, said: “There’s no excuse for parliamentary candidates who do not understand the law on what they can and cannot do before an election.
“It’s sad that it has taken a Conservative council to remind one of their own candidates of his legal responsibilities.”
Ertan Huhrer, chairman of the Edmonton Conservative Association, and also a cabinet member for finance at the council, said there had been a “difference of opinion as to the reason for and nature of the boards”.
Mr Huhrer said: “Advertising boards are used to promote or sell a product; these boards were clearly not for this purpose.
“These boards were specifically dealing with the issue of the Labour Government’s proposed cuts at North Middlesex Hospital and Chase Farm.
“They were placed on the buildings in December and we received very positive feedback from members of the public.”
The council said the material is classified as advertisements under the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2007.
Comments(17)
SAVVA
says...
6:05pm Fri 5 Feb 10
People have complained but he still wanted to continue to have them put up. Then he talks to us about democracy.
I have received 27 complaints only on this issue from members of the public
Dayaj
says...
1:09pm Mon 8 Feb 10
And your lackeys probably nicked his balloon!
The NHS is safe in London, in Enfield? Are you nuts?
Secret memo's discussing North Mid downgrade and upgrades that were designed before Chase Farm was under threat.
Weren’t you sectioned once? Makes sense
SAVVA
says...
1:52pm Mon 8 Feb 10
The NHS is safe with Labour. North Middlesex is being upgraded and new buildings and new wards will be added.
I cannot print te comments made about this Tory candidate.
How can he talk about closures when the Tories have closed Weir Hall Library only 50 metres from his campaign home and more closures are ahead and they have also closed the adult training centre in Edmonton. The list is endless.
We know what the NHS was under the Tories and Thatcher and now Cameron wants us to go back to those dark ages.
God forbid.
Dayaj
says...
3:07pm Mon 8 Feb 10
What about us losing children’s and maternity services?
North Mid upgrades were designed BEFORE we knew Chase was losing its A&E or the mergers at Whittington etc - how is it supposed to deal with the extra pressure?
This is YOUR hospital Councillor, how can we fight for it if you're in denial that there's a problem?
SAVVA
says...
5:49pm Mon 8 Feb 10
It was his side who closed Weir Hall Library and it was the Conseravrvtives who closed the Adult training centre in Edmonton.
Will the NHS be safe under the Tories?
Of course not.
Labour has built the NHS again after the Thacherite era destroyed what was good about the NHS. People will not wish to go back to that era surely
SAVVA
says...
6:01pm Mon 8 Feb 10
A&E will not be closing down at Chase Farm and he knows that very well.
The truth of the matter is that the Tories will say anything will virtually do anything but when they will need to act on issues they miserably failed the people both nationally and Locally. Whichever way you see it the Tory polices if any are almost unworkable.
Art a recent BEH well it was held last week there are exciting plans coming along with poly clinics specilist hospitals that will treat patients withiut any precious time wasted.
These are the facts not the Tory fiction the Conservatives want us to believe.
viktory
says...
9:07am Tue 9 Feb 10
SAVVA wrote:So can you confirm, in writing, that ambulances will continue to take emergency cases to A&E at Chace Farm?
May I suggest the Tory candidate checks his facts for accuracy or has he failed to notice the Brand new building at North Mid, A&E will not be closing down at Chase Farm and he knows that very well. The truth of the matter is that the Tories will say anything will virtually do anything but when they will need to act on issues they miserably failed the people both nationally and Locally. Whichever way you see it the Tory polices if any are almost unworkable. Art a recent BEH well it was held last week there are exciting plans coming along with poly clinics specilist hospitals that will treat patients withiut any precious time wasted. These are the facts not the Tory fiction the Conservatives want us to believe.
SAVVA
says...
10:26am Tue 9 Feb 10
The A&E will be operating at Chase Farm Hospital. It willl be up to the the medical staff (paramedics etc )to decide where to take the patients.
But can I remind All what a Conservative Euro Mp said in America about the NHS and what advice he gave to President Obama.
What this Tory said was "the NHS is a 60 year mistake" How dare he suggest such a thing. Is this how the Tories will teat the NHS if they ever come to power.
Perish the Thought.
The NHS is safe with Labour not so sure about the Tories
I rest my case.
IBRAHIMs
says...
11:31am Tue 9 Feb 10
If you are resting your case on this you guys are finished come May
SAVVA
says...
12:53pm Tue 9 Feb 10
The Conservatives tried to ruin it by closing since then 245 hospitals. In 1997 the waiting lists rose to over 18 months and many lives were lost as a result.
Under Labour the waiting list is now under 6 months.
The NHS under the The Tories was at its knees and even Blair said we have only 24 hours to save the NHS that is how bad the NHS was under the Tories.
Labour has invested over £100 million more than treble since 1997 and Labour is the only party commited to the NHS unlike the Tories.
Many lives over 260.000 were saved by the NHS under Labour.
50,000 new doctors and 95,000 new nurses and the NHS under Labour has helped 965,000 people stop smoking There are over 750 health care centres.
So where are the cuts in te NHS
May I also please ask those Tories to stop throwing at us threats
We have no intention to let the NHS go as the Tories will if they ever
allowed to get into power.
Labour has and will continue to invest heavily on the NHS
Labour will built where the Tory vandal have ruined the public services.
Be it locally or nationally.l
A vote for Labour is a vote for NHS
SAVVA
says...
1:33pm Tue 9 Feb 10
THE INVESTMENT IN THE NHS MORE THAN TREBLE SINCE 1997 UNDER THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT.
UNDER THE TORIES WE HAVE SEEN CLOSURES OF SCHOOLS IN ENFIELD SUCH AS MICHENDEN.
UNDER LABOIUR WE HAVE SEEN NO LESS THAN 3 SCHOOLS BUILT IN ENFIELD SCHOOLS SUCH AS STARKSFIELD HIGHLANDS, KEYS MEADOWS AND MORE.
MORE INVESTMENT FOR THE YOUTH SERVICE OVER £3 MILLION AND MORE INVESTMENT FOR EDMONTON NOT FROM THE COUNCIL BUT FROM THE GOVERNEMNT AND EUROPEAN FUNDING.
THE CONSERAVTIVE VANDALS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TAKE CONTROL OF ENFIELD EVER LOCALLY OR NATIONALY.
finbarrmur
says...
2:26pm Tue 9 Feb 10
SAVVA
says...
2:47pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Perhaps you start by learning how to spell BELEVE as BELIEVE see the balloon on the photo and other mispellings and bad grammar in your Tory literature.
Look who is talking.
The fact remains we have spent money on the NHS and schools under LABOUR will even get better, whether you like or not.
finbarrmur
says...
3:01pm Tue 9 Feb 10
I'm not a tory, I'm not even in your area!
Your copy and paste party rhetoric on this thread is tiring
viktory
says...
12:05pm Wed 10 Feb 10
SAVVA
says...
3:09pm Wed 10 Feb 10
As my mother always used to say never trust a Tory and how true these words are. I know how to copy and paste the truth which you regard that as your enemy, but I will never copy or paste religious Christian icons or other religious symbol to promote political propaganda, Shame on you, or even distribute political propaganda as the Tories are doing outside religious buildings.
The complaints I have received about this particular Conservative candidate are as high as a mountain.
Fortunately the people know us and they know you.
Stop hiding behind your finger.
SAVVA says...
5:44pm Fri 5 Feb 10
The NHS is safe as North Middlesex Hospital is being upgraded with a new wing and childrens unit,
The NHS is safe and he should not distord the facts.