Lewes MP, Maria Caulfield, faces calls to refer herself to ministerial ethics adviser

Conservative MP for Lewes, Maria Caulfield, is facing calls to refer herself to the ministerial ethics adviser over false claims she made in a leaflet claiming that the local council wants to 'introduce a road toll system called a 15 minute city'.

Lewes District Council has never considered any such plan. Any sort of road tolls would be the responsibility of the local highways authority which for Lewes District is Conservative-run East Sussex County Council.

James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Lewes constituency said: "We are all fed up with the relentless misinformation being spread by Conservative MPs and ministers. Residents should be able to rely on information from their MP being accurate and well informed. 

"This letter from Maria Caulfield was not only promoting conspiracy theories but also making false claims about council policies and plans. Sadly, I am sure that she will find a reason to point fingers and blame others rather than take responsibility and set the record straight."

Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Maria Caulfield should apologise to local people and report her leaflet to the ministerial ethics adviser. That would be the honest and decent thing to do.

“After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, the public desperately wants a return to integrity in politics, yet Maria Caulfield is spreading baseless claims. [She] is deliberately misleading the public to try to save her own job. This is a new low for the Conservative party.”