ANGRY Tories in Bromsgrove have asked the deputy Prime Minister for guidance over Labour councillor Peter McDonald's suitability for political office following his recent conviction for misusing confidential data held on council records.

Cllr McDonald represents Uffdown and Waseley on Bromsgrove District Council, Rubery on Worcestershire County Council and is Bromsgrove's prospective parliamentary candidate.

He will contest the county council seat, and possibly the General Election, on June 7.

In a letter to John Prescott, Bromsgrove Conservative Association chairman Peter Jarrett points out Redditch magistrates, in fining him £500 plus costs, concluded Cllr McDonald's action represented "a breach of trust."

Cllr McDonald had claimed he misunderstood rules regarding access to the information that was used to target bus pass holders at the 1999 local elections warning them that a Tory win could lose them their concession.

Mr Jarrett, from Lydiate Ash, said because Cllr McDonald pleaded guilty no evidence was offered on how the information was obtained and what advice the Labour Party gave him.

He added: "If Cllr McDonald is not deselected, the electors of Bromsgrove and Rubery have a right to know the answers to these question before they vote on June 7."

Cllr McDonald said he made a genuine mistake.

"Cheap political point scoring does not help the elderly who face rent rises of 40 per cent and council tenants who have seen rents rise by 22 per cent in two years and who face a ten per cent increase next year," he added.

Labour's regional spokesman, Neil Skitt, said: "Peter is still our candidate."