It looks like Carelessness...

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Aug 2002

Bedford Tory Agent Stewart Lister has defected to run Frank Branstons campaign in the forthcoming Mayoral campaign.

Stewart Lister has been the Conservative agent in Bedford for some time, including at the recent local elections and General Election in 2001. It is believed that the story will appear in this weekends local newspapers. The Tories will be reeling from a second loss following the recent resignation of Conservative County Councillor Tom Foster.

Local Lib Dem organiser Colin Ross is watching developments with interest:

'Having watched senior Tory councillor Tom Foster leave their Party just a few weeks ago, losing their paid agent to another campaign now is devastating to the Tories. One loss you imagine they could deal with, but frankly, to lose two seems like carelessness.'

'There will be some long faces in the Bedford Tory Party tonight.'