UKIP’S Parliamentary candidate for Stourbridge has pledged to make a donation to charity as a gesture of goodwill after raising questions about his Labour rival’s birthplace.

James Carver MEP accused Labour councillor Pete Lowe of “misleading voters” by saying on his election literature that he was ‘born in Stourbridge’ although his birth certificate reveals he was born at a Wolverhampton hospital.

However, Mr Carver was slammed by Labour supporters for bringing the matter into the public arena – after Cllr Lowe revealed his mother had been rushed to Wolverhampton Women’s Hospital because she was expecting twins – one of whom died at birth.

Cllr Lowe, leader of Dudley Council and Labour’s hopeful for Stourbridge, called Mr Carver “disgraceful” for bringing the tragedy back into the minds of himself and his elderly mother Sylvia.

But after realising the distress caused – Mr Carver swiftly apologised to Cllr Lowe and offered to make a donation to Wellbeing of Women, a charity dedicated to improving the health of women and babies, as he too lost a brother in similar circumstances.

Mr Carver told the News: “My mother lost my second eldest brother at birth, she went full term but he was born with the umbilical cord around his neck so he was stillborn. We’ve both been affected by this, so I said I’ll make a small donation in memory of both our brothers."

He added: “I stand by my right to raise the issue – as we’re very much in the cut and thrust of an election campaign, but unbeknown to me was the situation behind it.”

Kent born Euro MP Mr Carver, who has two other brothers, said he had a private chat with Cllr Lowe about the matter in the hope of drawing a line under it and he added: “I’m not a dirty politician. I was most upset to hear about his tragedy. I made a point which on paper was a valid point but the more this goes on it could potentially upset Pete’s mum.”

Cllr Lowe said on Twitter: “Whilst we need not descend to such depths I am at least grateful to @JamesJimCarver for apologising for distress.”