The Carlisle Constituency Labour Party has issued an apology to Conservative candidate John Stevenson over claims that he kept money donated to him for the Carlisle Skills Fair.
The party also issued an apology over an article that suggested Mr Stevenson had not been the founder of the skills fair and had instead taken over an existing event.
Labour Carlisle says it has made a donation two charities, as requested by Mr Stevenson.
On its Facebook page, Labour Carlisle said: "Carlisle Labour Party unreservedly apologises to John Stevenson for the posting of a factually inaccurate and misleading article concerning the Carlisle Skills Fair.
"It suggested that: 1. John Stevenson had not been the originator of the Carlisle Skills Fair and had merely taken over an existing event.
"2. John Stevenson had kept personally the donations which were given to him for the Skills Fair.
"We acknowledge and accept that both these statements were factually incorrect.
"We apologise for any distress or reputational damage caused to John. We also apologise to his family and friends for any distress caused to them.
"As requested by John we have a made a payment to two Carlisle charities in recognition of the damage caused. No payment has been made to John himself."
Mr Stevenson told the News & Star that he does not wish to comment at this stage.
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