CONCERN: James Rands, a former Liberal Democrat borough councillor in Tunbridge Wells said he raised his concerns with the local party over how it had spent campaign funds. (Pic by Sally Loram)
A whistleblower with concerns about how Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats spent campaign funds on last year's local borough and county elections has reported the matter to police.
The red flag came from a supporter of the party who emailed Kent Police on January 11 about the campaign spending last May, ahead of elections for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council.
The party supporter's email, which is with Kent Police's complex fraud team, alleges the party put in a "false electoral return" to the Electoral Commission. A return should demonstrate how campaign funds were spent.
They also allege in the email "irregularities" in the returns were raised and "concerns" brought up at local party level.
James Rands, who was a Lib Dem councillor for Culverden, shared those concerned. He resigned as chairman of the executive committee last week and now represents his ward as an Independent.
His concern about the spending and subsequent handling of the return and internal review was the "last straw" he said.
He told the Courier the party received 2,400 to fight seats in the county elections.
"We gave Kent Lib Dems a breakdown which was quite specific about what we said we were going to do. The paperwork was very clear on this. There was no question about it," said Mr Rands.
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