WIDOW Mary Lees is furious after a Tory begging letter was sent to her Labour councillor husband, who died 18 months ago.

The letter, asking for election fund contributions and signed by party chairman Dr Brian Mawhinney, was sent to Harry Lees, a lifelong Labour supporter who represented Bradley ward in Nelson for Labour from May 1990 to his death in May 1995.

"He would not have been amused," fumed Mrs Lees, 52, of Regent Street, Nelson.

"I don't think it's in very good taste at all.

"You would think they would check before sending these letters out.

"They've just made themselves look a bunch of complete idiots.

"They are leaving themselves wide open."

Mrs Lees, herself a Labour supporter, said she had heard of an incident in which one of the letters was sent to a Labour MP. Another was sent to a Labour councillor in Blackburn.

The letter said: "The economic stability we have achieved together, and the prospect of rising prosperity in the future, would all be put at risk with the election of a Labour Government."

It added: "Unlike Labour, who can expect heavy support from the trade unions, we have to rely on donations from individuals, people who recognise that a Conservative Government is best for Britain."

A spokesman for Conservative Central Office said: "We regret any distress caused to this lady. When letters are being sent out in their hundreds of thousands it's inevitable that some mistakes are made."

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