Row over Labour leaflet “politicising” knife crime in village where Brianna Ghey was tragically stabbed to death

A row has broken out over a Labour Party leaflet delivered in Culcheth last weekend “politicising” knife crime in the village where Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death, blaming “Tory austerity and its underfunding of councils”.

While Labour says it is “manifestly wrong to suggest that the Labour Party leaflet being delivered in Culcheth is trying to politicise Brianna Ghey’s tragic murder,” others say it is “tasteless and inappropriate.”

A Labour Party member who contacted Warrington Worldwide to complain about the leaflet said: “To deliver a leaflet with this kind of content in the village where Brianna Ghey was so tragically murdered is an affront to decency.
“It is insensitive and inappropriate. This leaflet has not been delivered to any other part of Warrington. It has only been circulated in Culcheth and Croft.

The member added:“I was appalled when I saw a copy of this leaflet. It’s the lowest kind of politics. Using knife crime to play party political games in the wake Brianna Ghey’s tragic murder is beyond the pale. It is insensitive, crass and quite frankly sickening. Trying to push the blame onto the Tories when the community is still trying to come to terms with this horrific event disgusts me. Didn’t any of the candidates think about what they were doing? They must have known they were delivering this only a couple of weeks after the anniversary of Brianna’s death.
“The fact that the leaflet has only been delivered in Culcheth makes it worse. They knew what they were doing. It was obviously targeted and designed to stir up raw feelings.
“Questions need to be asked about who approved this leaflet and who signed it off. I’m shocked that Charlotte Nichols MP features on it as well. Did she know about it? Was she happy to be associated with it? All her claims about supporting the community and Brianna’s family seem to ring hollow after this.
“Brianna’s legacy is about bringing people together, not stoking up divisions in this way. Using the issue of knife crime to try and win an election after what happened is appalling and I just find it indefensible. Labour North West need to suspend candidates Matt Smith, Janet Seddon and Neil Johnson immediately, along with Croft parish councillor Norman Partington whose name appears as the promoter of this leaflet. Charlotte Nichols MP and campaign chief Nathan Sudworth also need to explain why the CLP is playing this kind of dirty politics with such a sensitive issue.”

Cllr. Wendy Maisey

Local Tory Cllr Wendy Maisey also hit out stating: “For local Labour candidates to politicise a tragedy like this is tasteless and inappropriate.
“Knife crime in this ward has never been highlighted as an issue by Labour in the past. This can only be a cynical attempt on their part to refer to one particular event.”
“Matt Smith, Janet Seddon and Neil Johnson should be ashamed of themselves for trying to fire cheap political shots off the back of this devastating moment in our village’s history.
“It is clear that all three seem totally unfit for office.
She added: “Charlotte Nichols MP needs to come clean over whether she endorsed and approved the contents of this leaflet.
“Meanwhile, Labour needs to urgently withdraw this tawdry leaflet and issue an apology to both the family of Brianna Ghey and the wider community.
“The three candidates and the Croft parish councillor who published the leaflet should consider making a donation to the foundation established by Esther Ghey as a mark of their regret.”

But a Labour Party spokesperson responded: “It is manifestly wrong to suggest that the Labour Party leaflet being delivered in Culcheth is trying to politicise Brianna Ghey’s tragic murder.”
“Cheshire Police recorded 525 knife crime offences last year, down from 538 recorded the year previous but it still remains a serious issue in Cheshire and across the country. Since 2012 according to Home Office data, overall offending across Cheshire is up by 59%.
“Labour has a plan to tackle knife crime which includes a major new youth programme and making it clear that those who carry a knife will face real consequences under a Labour government.”
“Labour in Cheshire will restore the rule of law on our county’s streets and in our town centres, and take urgent action to keep our young people safe from knife crime.”