Tory high-flier held over a campaign of hate against political opponents

By Vincent Moss and Justin Penrose 19/07/2008

Ian Oakley (Pic: Sm)

A Tory high-flyer has been arrested by police investigating a three-year campaign of hate against political opponents.

Ian Oakley, 31, who had been chosen to stand in the next election, was arrested on suspicion of vandalism, making abusive midnight phone calls and sending porn in the post to several Lib Dem members.

Police are also investigating false claims that some Lib Dems were convicted sex offenders.

Mr Oakley was arrested on Friday and informed party leader David Cameron yesterday that he was standing down as the Tory parliamentary candidate for Labour seat Watford.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: “A 31-year-old man from West Drayton was arrested on Friday night in connection with a series of criminal damage and harassment offences the victims of which were members of a national political party.

He has been given police bail pending further inquiries.”

Police are looking into claims that fake Lib Dem leaflets designed to stir racial hatred by wrongly stating more mosques were to be built were also distributed.

The alleged hate campaign is said to have begun before the 2005 General Election when Mr Oakley was campaign manager for the Tories. Labour held the seat.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Sal Brinton said: “Over the past three-and-half years the Liberal Democrats in Watford have been the victim of a sustained campaign of intimidation, vandalism and hate crimes.

“We welcome the news an arrest has been made.”

Mr Oakley became parliamentary party candidate for Watford in November 2006.

He was previously a councillor in Hillingdon and worked for the Financial Services Authority.

Mr Oakley says on his Facebook page: “I’m trying to make Watford a cleaner, greener, safer place.”