MP says row report is ‘fake news’

BATH’S MP has dismissed reports the city’s council leader is being lined up to replace her amid party infighting as “fake news”.

Private Eye this week claimed that Wera Hobhouse was not on best terms with Liberal Democrat peer Lord Strasburger and that he wanted to parachute Cllr Kevin Guy into the parliamentary seat she has held since 2017.

It said the allegations of electoral fraud against Cllr Guy – which he has denied as “malicious” – were a smokescreen for a wider falling-out in the party.

Mrs Hobhouse said the relationships between herself, Cllr Guy and Lord Strasburger remain strong and they do not “stab each other in the back” when they disagree.

The magazine said: “The campaign against Guy appears to be a smokescreen for a wider fallingout among local Lib Dems, some of whom fear the Yellow Baron is planning on parachuting Guy into the Bath parliamentary seat, currently occupied by Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse.”

Responding, Mrs Hobhouse said: “I work well with both Cllr Kevin Guy and Lord Paul Strasburger and we have strong collegial relationships so that even when we don’t always agree, we work things out together rather than stabbing each other in the back. This story is a typical example of fake news.”

Lord Strasburger added: “Wera is doing a fantastic job as MP for Bath and we work together in Parliament very happily. She punches way above her weight in Westminster and is working very hard and effectively for the people of Bath.”

Cllr Guy, who said Private Eye had “got it very wrong”, is set to be confirmed as the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council on Tuesday.