THE ‘bullygate’ row that erupted around a charity in Swindon could have a major impact on the town’s voters.

Swindon is often seen as a crucial swing town when it comes to politics with voters flitting between parties and the latest furore involving National Bullying Helpline boss Christine Pratt revealing she took calls from staff inside 10 Downing Street could shift votes either way.

Some voters in the town think they would now vote Tory because of the revelations, while others are saying Labour deserves more support now.

Swindon North is currently in 60th position on the Tories’ list of target seats with current MP Michael Wills stepping down, leaving his small majority of 2,571 to former Staines councillor Victor Argarwal.

The South Swindon seat could be snatched from Labour MP Anne Snelgrove if lawyer Robert Buckland can overturn her majority of 1,353 votes.

In the last local elections, the Conservative group took 56 per cent of the vote meaning they currently have 43 out of the 59 seats.

In a poll undertaken by the Financial Times in Swindon town centre, it was revealed that many people in Swindon believe the ‘bullygate’ scandal was blown out of proportion.

The scandal hit national headlines last month when Mrs Pratt revealed that “three or four” Number 10 staff had called her helpline and this fuelled allegations that Prime Minister Gordon Brown had bullied staff.

Since then, four patrons of the charity have resigned, including Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and TV presenter Sarah Cawood after saying Mrs Pratt breached the charity’s confidentiality rules.

Last week the helpline was suspended for three days but this week everything is back up and running at the helpline, based in Murdock Road, Dorcan.