PROSPECTIVE parliamentary candidate James Carver has accused one of his political rivals of suffering from an identity crisis after it was discovered he was born in Wolverhampton and not Stourbridge as was claimed.

UKIP candidate James Carver claims Labour's Pete Lowe has been "misleading Stourbridge voters" by saying he was born in the constituency - when in fact his birth certificate shows he was born at Wolverhampton Women's Hospital in October 1968.

Councillor Lowe, leader of Dudley Council, however, has accused Mr Carver of "lowering the tone of politics" by bringing the matter up.

He told the News: "I've lived here all my life, my parents lived in Delph Drive, Quarry Bank.

"My mother was rushed to hospital in Wolverhampton when I was born, because it was the closest one available at the time."

Mr Carver, who obtained a copy of cllr Lowe's birth certificate after being tipped off about the matter while canvassing, took issue with the Labour politician's 'Born, Bred, Believes' campaign after seeing election literature in which cllr Lowe proclaims he was "born in Stourbridge".

The Labour Party's website also states cllr Lowe's ambition to "become the first Stourbridge born MP to represent this constituency".

Mr Carver said: " If he continues to do this after nominations close, he must be aware that distribution of election material using false information is an offence under electoral law and would be investigated fully.

"I'm bringing the issue to light because Cllr Lowe made a big attack on both Margot James and myself for not being born in Stourbridge."

Cllr Lowe, however, hit back - saying his mother Sylvia was taken to Wolverhampton Women's Hospital in an emergency because she was carrying twins and he added: "What the birth certificate will not show was that I lost a twin brother."

He said it was "disgraceful" of Mr Carver to bring the matter into the public arena and he said he wouldn't be "lectured by people standing for Stourbridge who have their constituency office in Kidderminster".

And he added: "This is going to affect my mum who will be reminded yet again that she's got one loving son instead of two, and it reminds me of the brother I never had the opportunity to meet.

"If this is how low politics has got it's a sad day."

Conservative candidate Margot James said: “Where candidates were born or come from doesn’t make a difference to their ability to serve the people of Stourbridge, but it is always best to stick to the truth in a general election.”