Kinloss forced to apologise for event that may have breached election rules

The JC has also seen evidence that the Kinloss Youth Instagram page displayed personal slurs directed towards Liberal Democrat candidate Ms Berger.

The posts were taken down after complaints were received.

Electoral Commission rules state that election literature containing attacks of a personal nature directed towards candidates could become a police matter.

Ms Berger had been due to speak at Kinloss to a group of girls aged between 10 and 12 on November 30, at an event arranged before the election was called.

The JC has learned that Ms Berger agreed to a request by Kinloss not to take part in the event on the grounds that impartiality rules might be breached if she came into contact with any parents.

The United Synagogue (US) is writing to the Charity Commission to offer an explanation of the decision by Kinloss officials to allow Tuesday’s event to go ahead.

Steven Wilson, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue, said: "Kinloss has apologised for this error. Charity Commission guidance is clear: even if this is a closed event, for young people, that was booked before the general election was called, this event should have been cancelled or postponed and all candidates need to be treated equally.

"While the event was aimed at young people, we understand that one of the fifteen participants has recently turned 18 and so would be eligible to vote. The United Synagogue has written to the Charity Commission to inform them."

Tuesday’s event, which was promoted by the United Synagogue’s youth wing, Tribe, was billed as designed to “guide you into the next steps of life” and “the realities of life ahead.”

The Kinloss Youth website confirmed that Mr Freer would be discussing his “route into politics”.

Mr Freer took part in a question and answer session at the event.

Following the meeting photographs were circulated on the shul group's Instagram showing Mr Freer addressing those who attended, meaning they were potentially viewed by local voters.

On Wednesday, Kinloss officials hastily contacted the local Labour candidate Ross Houston and Ms Berger to invite them to attend separate events next week addressing the same age group at the shul.

A spokesperson for Luciana Berger told the JC: “We respected the decision by Kinloss to rescind an invitation to Luciana to address a group of young girls about female role models because of the legal impartiality rules during an election period.

“We are very concerned to learn that the same rules were not applied to Tuesday’s event at Kinloss with the Conservative candidate.”

A Labour spokesperson confirmed that Mr Houston was not informed about the same event ahead of it taking place.

A spokesman for Kinloss told the JC: "Kinloss apologises that this event took place during the election period and it shouldn’t have done. It is important to note that the programme was part of a six-part mid-week leadership course for fifteen teenagers that was arranged four months ago, well before the general election was called.

"We have subsequently invited both the Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates to address the group too on the subject of leadership, not politics, as was the topic last night.”

The JC approached Mr Freer for comment.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: "We are aware of concern about a recent event hosted by Kinloss Finchley United.

"We are currently considering information and will be contacting the United Synagogue to assess decision-making in relation to events the charity holds.”

 A poll for the JC published last Friday put Mr Freer five points clear of Ms Berger in Finchley and Golders Green.

The survey, put Mr Freer on 29 per cent, Ms Berger on 24 per cent and Labour challenger Mr Houston on just 14 per cent.