MP apologises after Wrexham campaign literature gives update from Gloucestershire

Wrexham’s MP has apologised after numerous residents in Wrexham were sent an erroneous piece of political literature .

Many residents of Wrexham will have had copies of the ‘summer edition’ of the “Wrexham News” that looks a bit like a newspaper, although is only four pages thick and was printed by the Welsh Conservatives.

The frontpage details a health campaign from Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton in Wrexham, however inside Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust and other south west England information is presented. The errors go on with details of investment in the West of England Institute of Technology under a headline of ‘local people’ , and information on policing numbers in Gloucestershire.

The back page returns to information about Wrexham, with a picture of a ‘typical Transport for Wales’ carriage (rammed) and a couple of quotes from people supporting campaigns by the MP.

In a box marked ‘advertisement’ that could imply the rest of the ‘paper’ was not, Sarah Atherton MP details ‘our plan for Wrexham’.

We asked if there was any information on how the obvious errors came about, how many households had incorrect copies and if a replacement ‘issue’ would be sent out.

We also noted a well circulated report from a Westminster reporter who quotes a Whatsapp group with Wrexham’s MP appearing unhappy saying she was a “laughing stock” due to the error, with other similar issues reported from MPs around the UK.

The leaflet states it was printed in Wales and published by the Welsh Conservatives in North Wales.

No comment was available on those queries, however since then Sarah Atherton MP has said, “Why not take a look at my latest newspaper below? I know some residents have received a version that was printed in error – with info about other places. The leaflet I wrote is an update for residents on our ongoing healthcare campaign and our 6-point plan for Wrexham. Plus some UK Government success stories in Wales. Please accept my apologies if you received the wrong version. Click below to read the correct one!” pointing people to her site with a corrected copy of the inner pages.

Such promotional material is a common political tool from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Plaid Cymru – with similar tactics via online local ‘news’ pages and social media groups – methods that come under regular criticism.

The Society of Editors has long been calling for reform over the use of ‘fake newspapers’ by many political parties. “It is ironic how it is often politicians who complain about fake news but then set out to at least blur the lines for readers – and in this case voters – by packaging their partial messages to ape independent newspapers,” executive director Ian Murray said historically.

“If political parties were genuine in their desire, often expressed, to both remove the effects of fake news and disinformation as well as support existing regional and local media, they would take steps to ensure their political freesheets look markedly different to real newspapers.”

(Below, the summer edition of the Wrexham News)