Control File: a field or variable name cannot include spaces
The field and variable names cannot start or end with spaces or you get this error.
Starting with a space is taken as a continuation line so there is no way to do that anyway.
To make it symmetrical and follow the Debian Policy Manual we do not authorize spaces after the field or variable name either.
VALIDField: Value
Field:Value
Variable= Value
Variable=Value
INVALID Field: Value
Field : Value
Field : Value
Variable= Value
Variable = Value
Variable = Value