West Midlands Police Investigating Claims of False Residency by Labour Mayoral Candidate

West Midlands Police are assessing allegations made by local Conservative politicians that Labour candidate Richard Parker falsely claimed residency to stand in the critical West Midlands mayoral election on Thursday. The Conservatives have accused Parker of breaching electoral law by listing a Birmingham city center flat as his home address, when his main property is reportedly a house he owns in a Worcestershire village outside the West Midlands region.

The police have confirmed they received a complaint and are currently evaluating the claims. A spokesman for Parker denied any wrongdoing, stating, "Richard Parker has lived and worked in the West Midlands for 40 years and there are no grounds to question his eligibility."

The allegations come as the mayoral race is said to be too close to call. A recent poll showed the Conservative incumbent Andy Street at 41% and Parker at 39%, prompting senior Conservatives to urge Reform UK voters to back Street in order to prevent a Labour victory. The West Midlands mayoral election is one of 10 such contests taking place across the UK on Thursday.

Why this matters: The outcome of this election could have broader implications for the national performance of both the Conservative and Labour parties. The police investigation into the residency claims against the Labour candidate adds further uncertainty to an already tight race.

Conservative MP Gary Sambrook, who made the initial complaint to police, alleges that Parker's declared address of a rented flat in central Birmingham is not his actual home, and that his family residence is located just outside the West Midlands Combined Authority area, which would make him ineligible to run. Parker has publicly acknowledged that his family home is in a village outside the election boundary, but maintains he has a base in Birmingham that he has been using for his campaign. His campaign dismissed the allegations as "shameful political game-playing" by a "desperate" Conservative Party.

According to the latest betting odds, Parker is currently the 4/6 favorite to win the election. However, the race remains extremely close, with another poll by YouGov showing just a 2% split between the top two candidates. The key issue in the campaign has been housing, with both Parker and Street promising to launch significant social housing building programs if elected.

Key Takeaways

• West Midlands Police investigating claims Labour candidate Parker falsely claimed residency
• Parker denies wrongdoing, says he has lived in West Midlands for 40 years
• Mayoral race tight, with Parker and Conservative incumbent Street neck-and-neck
• Outcome could have broader implications for national performance of parties
• Key issue is housing, with both candidates promising social housing programs