Bath & North East Somerset Council leader sends accidental email to opponents

Kevin Guy, the Liberal Democrat leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, accidentally sent a weekly update intended for his party to a mailing list containing all council members, including his political opponents.

In the email, Guy claimed that opposition councillors were using a controversial £2.35m cycle lane project in Royal Victoria Park to “spread misinformation and attack the administration.” He urged supporters to rely on official information and avoid amplifying opposition campaigns.

Green Party councillor Saskia Heijltjes criticized the comments as “disingenuous,” accusing the leader of attempting to smear those holding the administration to account regarding the use of public funds. A member of the Liberal Democrat administration acknowledged the email was sent “in error” but maintained that the claims made within it were accurate.

The controversy follows the council's decision to halt work on the Royal Victoria Park cycle lane project after admitting it had missed a major objection due to a “technical and administrative oversight.”