A VALE MP is facing criticism for sending constituents a sticker to warn political canvassers away.

Welsh Labour has called for an investigation after it emerged Conservative MP for the Vale of Glamorgan and Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns appeared to use parliamentary resources to send letters and window stickers to constituents, encouraging them to turn away political campaigners ahead of a potential General Election.

The window sticker says “no uninvited traders” and "no cold callers" - but also states “no political canvassers”, prompting accusations that Mr Cairns was using public money to try to block political rivals from speaking to voters.

The letter, printed on House of Commons stationery, explains the sticker is aimed at reducing the number of “uninvited traders visiting parts of the Vale”.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs are banned from using stationery or postage for party political purposes, or in a way that can be viewed as campaign expenditure.

Residents have reported receiving the letters in Dinas Powys, Cowbridge, Barry and Boverton, among other areas.

Barry And District News:

Sally Stephenson, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Vale, said: "Alun Cairns is trying to prevent the public from engaging with political parties in order to stop them discussing the Tories' shocking behaviour and the impact of their disastrous Brexit.

"This is a complete waste of tax-payers’ money.

"It is yet another cynical attempt by the Conservatives to shut down democratic debate in this country, because they know the public has turned against them.”

A spokesman for Alun Cairns said: "Alun is well known for taking a pro-active approach to issues that affect constituents in the Vale of Glamorgan. In the past he chaired the all-party Parliamentary group on nuisance calls and secured changes to the law to restrict cold telephone calling.

“There have been a number of complaints about the increase in nuisance callers and the rise of the doorstep economy in the Vale of Glamorgan. Ahead of the clocks going back, Alun wants to provide constituents with a proven means of reducing the number of doorstep callers.”

Welsh Labour parliamentary candidate for the Vale, Belinda Loveluck-Edwards said: “It appears that Alun Cairns is using public money to try and block his political opponents from speaking to voters. This must be investigated.

“This is a deliberate attempt to present a false equivalence between genuine political canvassing and those who would wish to scam vulnerable people.

“Many people will be deeply unsettled by this behaviour from Cairns at the same time as the Tories are attempting to suppress votes by making it a requirement to show ID at polling stations- a move that will disproportionately affect working class, ethnic minority and young voters.

“This is not how politics should be done. In contrast, Welsh Labour is opening up politics by extending votes to 16 and 17 year olds in future Assembly elections. We must resist Tory attempts to close down our democracy.”