Opposition walk out over DUP debate

OPPOSITION councillors walked out of a full council meeting in protest at an “abhorrent” debate over the Government’s deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The nine Conservative borough councillors at the meeting on July 12 refused to participate in the vote on Theresa May’s £1 billion agreement with the Northern Irish party – on the basis that it not related to Rossendale issues and should not have been submitted to full council.

But Labour members argued that the national issues were directly impacting on Valley residents through cuts to local government budget and it was reasonable for them to challenge the Government on the ‘confidence and supply’ deal. The motion, submitted to Rossendale council (RBC) by councillors Steve Hughes ●● Councillors Anne Cheetham and Brian Essex were among those to walk out and Sean Serridge, stated: “Council asks the leader to write to the Prime Minister asking why £1 billion can be found immediately to send to Northern Ireland, and our services here in Lancashire continue to be slashed and face the ongoing threat of closure.”

Tory leader Coun Anne Cheetham said: “Sometimes you have strange bedfellows and they are part of the United Kingdom. This is very much a national issue. At least the money is being spent within the UK and for the benefit of citizens in Northern Ireland.”

Deputy Tory group leader Coun Brian Essex said: “This motion has no place whatsoever in RBC and breaks a rule that only issues pertaining to the function of RBC should be raised. I find this abhorrent that the use of valuable time has been put to this issue – it’s a national issue.

“The DUP was the only option to allow government business to continue.

“I find that this motion is purely political and I am not going to have anything to do with it.”

But Labour council leader Alyson Barnes said: “I think Rossendale and the people who live here are suffering because of cuts. To suggest that money can be available to buy ten votes from Northern Ireland but money cannot be available to fund vital services in this borough to support our residents is quite extraordinary.”

Stacksteads colleague Coun Christine Lamb added: “It’s pure buying votes, it’s not what we do in this country.”

The opposition councillors chose not to participate and left the chamber during the named vote. The motion was passed in their absence. The council also agreed to write to the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw voicing ‘deep concern and opposition’ over the proposed closure of the Valley’s last remaining police front desk, and asking him to appear at an overview and scrutiny meeting.

The proposed closure of the police counter at Waterfoot from next January was announced last month under £1.4m police cuts. ●● The former Regal Cinema, turned bingo hall, in Bacup