UKIP councillor in police row
A UKIP councillor got a helping hand from an unlikely source as he crammed in some last minute canvassing.
Merstham's Paul Clarke, 27, was stopped along with his nine other rosette-sporting campaigners at 9.22am this morning (May 6) by police as they began door-knocking.
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Joint campaign: Police talk to one of Mr Clarke's UKIP campaigners.
A confused Mr Clarke said one member of his campaign team was subjected to a stop-and-search by officers after they claimed he had been "acting suspiciously".
"What was suspicious about it? We were all wearing our UKIP rosettes and getting into a van which said Vote for Paul Clarke.
"It was pretty obvious what we were doing.
"After that they followed us through the streets, with one car in front and one behind.
"It was nice of them to join in our campaign."
The former Conservative Party member had attached a loud speaker to the roof of his Ford Transit van sporting his party posters.
Through the tannoy residents heard his rousing campaign speech over the backing of Chumbawumba's 1997 hit "I get knocked down".
He added: "I don't know if I'll get in as it seems as though all the odds are against me.
"Ever since day one things have gone against me, especially when people started taking my posters down.
"I tell you what though, if I do get in I am going to cause some havoc."
3 Comments
by Tory Reigate, Reigate
Friday, May 07 2010, 7:13PM
“I am a life long tory voter from Reigate and I have to say the campaigners around here wouldn't be picked on just because the police didn't like them. I seems that if the Police dont like you your doomed. Leave him alone to get on with the things that he beleives in.”
by Paul Clarke, Merstham
Friday, May 07 2010, 6:45PM
“To 'against this UKIP candidate ',
I agree I am not a councillor and I have never claimed to be one. That is also not even me in the photo. I cant understand you making these sly comments about things that you really don't know about. If you feel like you want to hear the facts, I am more than willing to let you know over the phone 01737 645176 and don't worry you can withhold your number if you want?”
by against this ukip candidate, Merstham
Friday, May 07 2010, 5:07PM
“I would like to point out this "person" in not a UKIP councillor as stated in your article he was a UKIP candidate if your going to report on this "person" yet again please get the facts right!
looking at the picture above thank the lord they didn't knock on my front door! it was bad enough having to listen to his damn noise whilst he was driving around Merstham let alone having them knock on doors as well!!! lets hope he loses his appeal then he wont be able to stand for another 5 years and make the people of Merstham suffer him again!”