A video has been circulating online appearing to show a sitting Oxford councillor removing an election leaflet from somebody’s postbox. 

Doorbell footage posted online seems to show Tom Hayes, who is standing as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth East, taking another party’s leaflet out of the door before swapping it with a Labour leaflet while out campaigning. 

The video was retweeted by Tobias Ellwood MP who Mr Hayes will be running against at the next general election.

Mr Ellwood captioned it: "Oops… Missing your Tory election leaflet in Bournemouth? Here’s Oxford Cllr Tom Hayes: (also Labour Parl. candidate for Bournemouth East!) Apparently less familiar with Section 84 of the Postal Services Act. Let’s all try & keep the bar high - or where does politics go?"

 

Section 84 of the Postal Services Act says: "A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post." 

In June 2022 Mr Hayes stepped down as  Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council to stand to be an MP in Greater Manchester but was not selected.

He continues to be a councillor for the St Clement’s ward in Oxford.

BCP Council leader Phil Broadhead told our sister title the Bournemouth Echo: “While the Conservatives across BCP have been focusing on a positive campaign with a plan for the future, it is disappointing to see others resorting to tactics such as this, especially considering this person has been selected by the Labour Party as a parliamentary candidate.” 

Mr Hayes has been approached for comment.