Preston City Council has become embroiled in a row with a Reform candidate after he set up a pop-up banner at the city’s egg rolling event.

Luke Parker, who is standing in the Lancashire County Council local elections, shared footage of himself in discussion with city council staff after they asked him to move.

Attended by thousands of Prestonians the annual egg rolling event is held in Avenham and Miller Park and dates back to Victorian times.

Read more: Watch as Preston Egg Rolling tradition continues despite the rain in Avenham Park

The footage shows a staff member from the city council and Parker exchanging words by the Reform banner which was put up close to the footpath where people line up for the egg rolling on the hour between 11am and 4pm.

‘Wasn’t appropriate’ claim city council

Although the local elections are for seats on the county council it is the city council which acts as the deputy returning officer and oversees conduct by candidates during the election period.

A spokesperson for the city council told Blog Preston: “Staff were made aware of the pop-up stand at the Egg-Rolling event and asked the candidates to leave as it wasn’t approved or appropriate for the family event.

“The Election’s team are now in discussion with the Reform Party election agent regarding the issue.”

Reform say they’ve done nothing wrong

Parker said: “I was at Avenham Park’s Egg Rolling event to engage with the community and take part in a cherished local tradition. I had positive conversations with residents and even shared a moment with the Mayor of Preston. It was a great example of what local politics should be about: presence, visibility, and listening.

“What followed was deeply disappointing. Council staff approached me and attempted to remove me from the event without citing any rule, regulation, or legitimate reason. I made it clear that I knew my rights and told them, firmly but respectfully, that if they believed I was doing something wrong, they were welcome to call the police. I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Blog Preston approached Reform Preston and Parker’s agent, Scott Pye, who said: “Luke was on Avenham Park to speak to as many voters as he could about what matters to them. That’s what local politics should be about. Several Council workers – who were very professional and polite approached – to tell him that they had been told he must move. He made it clear that he was breaking no laws and if they wanted him to move they should tell the police to move him on. This ended the interaction. Luke will continue to speak to as many voters as he can in the last days of the campaign.”

Tactics criticised

Campaigning tactics used by Parker – who is standing in the Preston East division – have been called into question during the campaign after illegal fly-posting for his candidacy appeared across grade-II listed Moor Park and NHS chiefs moved to squash rumours posted on social media by Parker about the Finney House facility being lined up to house asylum seekers.

Preston Labour leader Matthew Brown who is also standing in the county council elections told Blog Preston: “Our annual Egg Rolling event at Avenham Park has been a Preston tradition for over 150 years where families enjoy their Easter Mondays together.

“At such an occasion the last thing people want is for a politician to be canvassing support on a Bank Holiday. Reform did not apply for permission unlike local businesses there and political campaigning is completely inappropriate at such an event.

“It seems Reform in Preston will go to no end to spread their politics of division whether it is this incident or the unlawful plastering of posters on our public parks. If Reform candidates are behaving this way now it makes you wonder what they would do if they gained any kind of power across Preston and Lancashire.”

Blog Preston also approached Preston Liberal Democrats and Preston Conservatives for comment but received no response by time of publication.

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