David Whipp, leader of the Pendle Liberal Democrats, Deputy Leader of Pendle Borough Council and a Lancashire County Councillor, was filmed on a door camera removing a Conservative election leaflet whilst posting his own.
After footage of the incident appeared on social media drawing criticism, the candidate for the Earby & Coates ward and Pendle Rural County Council seat returned to the address to redeliver the stolen leaflet.
Whipp later admitted taking the leaflet saying:
"I cannot tell a lie, that was me.
There was a leaflet hanging out of a letter box on a street I delivered this afternoon. I couldn't bring myself to redeliver it as it was from the opposition.
There were quite a few of those leaflets lying about on people's paths. I didn't want more littering in the area."
Video footage of the incident seems to dispute his claim of the leaflet sticking out, but we'll let you watch it below and judge for yourself. It also raises questions over the integrity of Mr Whipp, who has now been dubbed 'Whippy fingers' locally.
Due to strict rules governing elections the incident has been reported to the Police for investigation, and complaints have been made to Pendle Borough Council, the Liberal Democrats and Lancashire County Council.
Elections for Pendle Borough and Lancashire County Councillors take place on Thursday May 6, 2021.