BRADFORD’S Labour Group has blamed “enthusiastic supporters” of the party for breaking election rules by fixing political posters to the gates of a primary school.

On Wednesday several “Vote Labour” posters were fixed to the fence of Lapage Primary School on Barkerend Road ahead of next week’s Local Government elections.

Election rules ban candidates or parties from putting campaign materials on public or Council-run buildings, such as schools.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council, Councillor Brendan Stubbs (Eccleshill), called the posters a “cynical breach” of election rules, and wrote to the Council’s Electoral Services to complain shortly after they were installed, sending a photo showing ten red Vote Labour signs on the fence near the school gates.

The posters were removed from the fence later on Wednesday evening.

When asked for a response on the breach of election rules, a Labour spokesperson told the Telegraph & Argus it had been done by party supporters who were “unaware of the rules.”

They said: “These posters were put up by enthusiastic supporters who were unaware of the rules but were taken down within an hour of being put up, as soon as we saw them.”

Although candidates are allowed to visit homes and put up posters on private property, election rules state: “No campaign materials should be placed on any Council property, the public highway, including grass verges, or street furniture (e.g. lamp posts, railings, bridges, etc.) or within the polling station or boundaries of any polling place.

“No election materials should be displayed on private land, without the permission of the owner of the site or anyone else with an interest in the site.

“Any illegally placed material will be removed and the candidate may be charged for the removal.”

Cllr Stubbs said: “My view is it was a cynical breach timed for the end of the school day, The Labour Party and its campaigners know very well the rules on posters as we all do.

“I find it particularly difficult to swallow that they would choose a school for this 'election stunt' given their total failure to provide adequate service for children across the district.”

Bradford residents will go to the polls on Thursday May 4 with 30 of the authority’s 90 seats up for grabs.

The vote count is due to take place the following day, with results likely to be announced on Friday afternoon.