A POLITICAL row has broken out in Mid Beds between the Lid Dems and the Conservatives. Trouble flared when Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries was reported by the Lib Dems for allegedly misusing House of Commons notepaper supporting the Tory candidate Angela Barke

A POLITICAL row has broken out in Mid Beds between the Lid Dems and the Conservatives.

Trouble flared when Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries was reported by the Lib Dems for allegedly misusing House of Commons notepaper supporting the Tory candidate Angela Barker at the recent Houghton, Haynes, Southill and Old Warden by-election.

Now Mrs Dorries, say the Lib Dems, has responded by accusing their candidate of exceeding his £760 expenses budget. He denies the allegation.

"It is all sour grapes," said Cllr Roger Baines who took the Mid Beds District Council seat off the Tories.

"She used House of Commons headed paper supporting the Tory candidate Angela Barker and should have used local Conservative Party notepaper and we reported her to the Sergeant at Arms at the House of Commons."

Cllr Baines' agent Judith Cunningham said: "The Conservatives have always taken winning this seat for granted. Now they are disgruntled because we have taken it off them."

Mrs Dorries said: "The Lib Dems did not win this election fair and square."

With reference to the use of House of Commons notepaper she said: "Yes, I used the notepaper but I did not misuse House of Commons paper. I bought it and I have satisfied the Sergeant at Arms that nothing irregular happened.