CONSERVATIVE Party chiefs say a Southampton MP has no case to answer against allegations he gave voters’ personal details to a rival election candidate.

Royston Smith has always denied handing the names and addresses of hundreds of Southampton Itchen voters to Ukip candidate Kim Rose to help him win the seat from Labour.

His party association has ruled that no data protection breach occurred, although the 20 residents who complained to the party are now set to call on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate.

Police are also continuing to look into the allegations against Mr Smith.

As previously reported Mr Rose claimed Mr Smith, who he has known for many years, handed him a “dossier” of private details of Labour voters who were considering voting for Ukip.

Mr Smith beat Labour rival Rowenna Davis on election night to seize the former Labour stronghold. It is also claimed he gave Mr Rose a leaflet for use by Ukip which Mr Rose found offensive due to his Jewish ancestry.

Mr Smith has denied both allegations, although he admitted giving him information on wards and votes at previous elections that was accessible to any candidate.

A group of 20 residents whose names were on the list had complained to the Conservative Party, saying their personal data was misused.

But in a letter sent to the complainants Tory party chairman Lord Feldman wrote that the party had found that there had been no breach and it was a matter for the local association.

Southampton Itchen Conservative Association who are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller in their own right.

“As Mr Smith was their candidate at the time of this incident this is a matter for them.

“The Association and the candidate believe that no breach has occurred - SICA’s registration with the ICO includes providing personal data to other political organisations”.

A party spokesman did not answer further questions about the party’s investigation and what the result of any internal probe into who created the leaflet and whether any action had been taken.

Richard Chorley, one of the Itchen voters who complained to the party, said they would now write to the ICO to spur the watchdog into launching its own investigation.

He said: “The response from the Conservative Party was fudged – we know the information wasn’t in the public domain."

“The only option now is to take it to the ICO because it’s a totally unsatisfactory response.”