Politicians asked the Electoral Commission to probe a rival campaign leaflet which is not explicit about featuring former Labour councillors, party activists, and candidates.

Councillors from the Independent Labour Group (ILG), which split from Labour last year, wrote to the commission to complain about a Labour local council election pamphlet called ‘Making a difference to people like you’ that flopped onto doormats in March ahead of the polls on May 22.

ILG campaign manager Councillor William Stoodley said: “Our letter to the Electoral Commission sets out the active members of the Harrow Labour Group who are masquerading as ordinary members of the public, along with other issues concerning factual inaccuracies.

“Ann Groves was a former Harrow Labour Party councillor, Jack Elliot was the former chair of the Harrow East Labour Party when Tony McNulty was the MP, and his son, Barry Kendler, is running for councillor in Edgware ward.”

Labour’s leaflet carries photographs, names and quotes from Ms Groves, Mr Elliot and Mr Kendler among other people but does not mention their former or current roles and positions within the party hierachy. It calls them simply “residents”.

The Electoral Commission wrote back to the ILG to say while election material does have to fulfil a number of legal requirements any inaccuracy regarding policy or representations of events is down to rival parties to debate and therefore the body would not be investigating.

Harrow Council leader Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative) said: “I think it’s incredible that Labour put a fraudster up as a candidate, pack their leaflets with Labour members and activists pretending to be impartial local residents, and continue to take credit for things they didn't do – like free parking and three years of council tax freezes – and then still expect Harrow residents to trust them.”

Labour Group leader Councillor David Perry said: "It is absolutely laughable and ridiculous that we are two weeks away from an election and the only issues opposition parties are concerned about is playing petty party politics.

"The people of Harrow have before them a choice over which party is best placed to cater to their aspirations and run Harrow Council.

"Both the Tories and Independent [Labour] Group have no ideas and seem obsessed with scandal and sleeze.

"Harrow Council is currently faced with major challenges, and quite frankly Harrow deserves better than this type of continuous negativity."

What do you think? Email our reporter John Shammas on john.shammas@trinitymirror.com or post a comment below.