A SCOTTISH Tory activist campaigning ahead of a crucial by-election has been caught on camera apparently removing other parties’ leaflets from a private close.
CCTV footage shared online and with The National seems to show an activist enter a building with a dog, collect up and pocket campaign materials, and leave again. The video shows yellow-coloured leaflets being taken.
The National was told that campaign material from the SNP, the Greens, and an independent was found in the bins outside.
Locals allege the activist in the video is Linn Kleinman, the wife of the Tories’ candidate in the by-election: Robin Kleinman.
A tweet posted by the local Stirling Tories group, showing Linn Kleinman (below right) on the campaign trail on the same day the CCTV footage was recorded, has since been deleted.
Another tweet from the Stirling Tories, showing Robin Kleinman posing alongside a large black Newfoundland – suspected to be the same dog as appears in the CCTV footage, has also since been deleted.
Linn Kleinman – with an address in Bridge of Allan – is listed as being the membership secretary of The Newfoundland Club on its website.
Robin Kleinman is standing for election in the Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward of Stirling Council. The seat was made vacant after SNP councillor Graham Houston passed away in December.
READ MORE: Row as Scots council's Twitter account likes 'never trust a Tory' post
As it stands, both the SNP and the Tories have seven seats on Stirling Council, meaning the winner of the by-election will become the largest group.
However, Labour control Stirling Council after striking a deal with the Conservatives in the wake of the 2022 local elections.
For political leaflets delivered by mail, the Postal Services Act 2000, which applies UK-wide, states: “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.”
It is not known if the leaflets which were allegedly taken were delivered by post or by other parties' activists.
The Scottish Conservatives have been approached for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel