Channel 4 Allege Conservative Call Centre Used For Wrexham & Clwyd South “May Have Broken Election Law”

A Channel 4 News investigation broadcast this evening has alleged a ‘secretive’ call centre was canvassing for local candidates Andrew Atkinson and Simon Baynes on election day, an action that could be contrary to electoral law.

Update 11PM: The Channel 4 article now has the full video of their report as well – you can view it here.

Update 9:27PM: Similar to Mr Atkinson’s response below, Simon Baynes who stood in Clwyd South has responded to our query noting that he had no involvement with the issue – and had referred our email to CCHQ – the Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

CCHQ have subsequently been in touch and a Conservative spokesman said: “Political parties of all colours pay for market research and direct marketing calls. All the scripts supplied by the party for these calls are compliant with data protection and information law.”

Update 8:18PM: Andrew Atkinson has replied to our tweet about this story stating he does not know anything about the issue, and ‘nothing at all to do with me’:

Nothing at all to do with me. Not something I know anything about. I'm sure it will all be looked into

— Andrew Atkinson (@andrew4wrexham) June 22, 2017

Original information below…

Channel 4 News alleges the Conservative Party operated a ‘secret call centre’ during the recent General Election campaign, claiming the operation could have broken both electoral and data protection laws.

The call centre in Neath called people in the run up to the election asking various political questions claiming to be an independent market research company – ‘Axe Research’.

More seriously there are claims that on election day itself the call centre was used to ring voters in various marginal seats – including Wrexham and Clwyd South – to directly canvass on behalf of the candidates, which for Wrexham was Councillor Andrew Atkinson, and Clwyd South was Simon Baynes.

The Representation of the People Act states:

Channel 4 say the Conservative Party was asked various questions over the allegations with no reply, however they did confirm the company in question ‘were working for them’.

Channel 4 say: “The Neath call centre was visited by a senior Conservative Party official – both on election day itself and the day before. Channel 4 News has identified the individual as Richard Minshull, the Director of the Welsh Conservatives.”

Full details of what ‘appears to be underhand and potentially unlawful practices’ can be found via the Channel 4 News website article here, and the Guardian write up here.