A political row has erupted after Labour councillors were accused of boycotting a charity ball organised by the outgoing mayor's daughter. The event, held on Saturday, raised £2,500 for local charities but reportedly saw no Labour representatives in attendance.
The ball was organised by Sara Britcliffe after her father, Conservative councillor Peter Britcliffe, stepped down as mayor last month to 'clear his name' following a police investigation into sex offence allegations against him. The event was described as 'non-political' and attended by more than 120 people.
Former Conservative councillor Nick Whittaker criticised the Labour no-show, saying: 'There were no [Labour councillors] whatsoever. It shouldn't matter whether it's a Labour mayor or a Conservative mayor. At the end of the day, it's for charity.' He added that the charities—Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need and The Walmsley Foundation—were the ones to suffer.
Labour group leader Miles Parkinson defended the absence, stating the event was no longer an official mayoral ball and that councillors had other commitments, including Mother's Day and election preparations. He said: 'The event wasn't a mayor's ball anyway. It was just a fundraiser because the mayor stepped aside.'
Organiser Sara Britcliffe refused to be drawn into the political dispute, emphasising the success of the night: 'The main thing is that the event was a success and we raised £2,500 for our local charities. The mayoralty is neutral, as am I, and people are free to attend or not.'
Conservative group leader Tony Dobson noted the 'very good atmosphere' and said Peter Britcliffe received a warm reception. 'It's always good to be able to count on the community to come and support the last big event of the year,' he added.
