MP apologises for ‘administrative error’ labelled ‘cut and paste job’
HYNDBURN’S MP says a passage on her parliamentary website claiming she will work to make Burnley a green manufacturing centre was an “administrative error”.
The borough’s Labour group labelled it “a cut and paste job”, but Sara Britcliffe says she will not let “constant attacks” affect her.
The MP, who was previously elected as a Hyndburn borough councillor in 2018, also confirmed this week that she will be donating her council allowances to local charities.
A passage on her website had read: “Working with the Northern Powerhouse and Government Sara will ensure that local infrastructure keeps pace with the local economy, so success doesn’t result in congested roads. She will bring together the public and private sector so Burnley can become a green manufacturing centre.”
The wording, which is similar to excerpts on Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham’s web page, has since been corrected and amended. It comes after some Conservative MPs have been accused of sending stock responses to their constituents over the Dominic Cummings row.
A message on the Hyndburn Labour group Facebook page read: “Hyndburn Tory MP is a champion for...Burnley... Another Tory HQ cut and paste job.”
But Miss Britcliffe said: “I have always been very clear with my plan for Hyndburn and Haslingden. This was simply an administrative error which the member of staff has acknowledged and apologised for. They have an enormous workload at the moment and are doing a tremendous job helping me to support my constituents during these unprecedented times.”
She also said she believed it was right to donate her councillor’s allowance, while sitting as MP. Since winning the parliamentary seat from Graham Jones last December, she has attended one council meeting in addition to her House of Commons duties, sending her apologies on two occasions. The basic councillor’s allowance is £4,634pa.
She said: “I’ve been in the process of clarifying the tax position for the councillors’ allowance and, once that is done, I will be able to make the donations to my chosen charities of whom I have already pledged the money, as I believe it is right to put this money towards some of the great causes in the borough.
“I am aware that there are some members of the local Labour group trying to make political mischief out of this situation but, right now, I think there are far greater things to do than play political games whilst we as a community are still facing this crisis.
“These continuous distractions from certain sections of the Labour group are not helpful and they do nothing to support our residents at their time of need. However, I will remain focused on continuing to work tirelessly for all those who urgently need my support and will not let these constant attacks take me away from this.”
Borough council elections were due to be held last month, but were axed by the coronavirus crisis. This saw Labour’s Jean Battle (Church) and Jeff Scales (Rishton) facing another year having planned to retire.
Miss Britcliffe, who is also on Hyndburn’s Judicial Committee, added: “Right now there are no elections taking place and it’s difficult to see that they will be permitted in the near future. I am not prepared to see my residents in St Andrews ward without a voice in the local council chamber so for now I will continue this work, as that is the correct thing to do.”
No byelections are currently allowed due to social distancing requirements, and Hyndburn councillors elected in May 2021 will serve three years instead of the usual four-year term.