POLICE have said that “no offence has been committed” after a complaint by political rivals over a Liberal Democrat election leaflet and advert which wrongly claimed to thousands of Ceredigion residents that Plaid Cymru and Labour are “backing an extreme Brexit”.

In a bilingual sponsored Facebook advert, which appeared on the timelines of would-be voters around Aberystwyth on Sunday night and Monday morning, the Lib Dems claimed that Plaid Cymru and Labour, “along with the Tories and UKIP” are “backing an extreme Brexit”.

It was followed on Monday by leaflets arriving through thousands of letter boxes in Ceredigion which repeated the false claim that “Plaid and Labour are in bed with the Tories and UKIP on an extreme Brexit deal”.

Ceredigion candidate and leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Mark Williams was forced to apologise for the claims on Monday.

A Plaid spokesperson said that a complaint had been made to police under the Representation of the People Act 1983, as well as a complaint to the Electoral Commission.

Dyfed-Powys Police told the Cambrian News it had responded to the complaint and said that “no offence has been committed”.

The Electoral Commission said it “does not regulate the content of campaigning materials”, and referred the matter to police.

Plaid’s vision for Brexit, while “accepting the result of the EU referendum”, is far from “extreme” and calls for keeping Wales’ membership of the Single Market, guaranteeing tariff-free trade, and lays out policies “to mitigate the risks and capitalise on the opportunities” of the country leaving the EU.

Labour plans also emphasise retaining the benefits of the Single Market, as well as protecting workers’ rights, equality law, consumer rights and environmental protections.

A Lib Dem spokesman told the Cambrian News that the advert and leaflet - which did not bear Mr Williams’ name - were produced and signed off by the UK party and were not seen by Mr Williams, who was “embarrassed” by them.

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