HARD EARNED BRENT COUNCIL TAXPAYER'S CASH GOES TO PROMOTE LABOUR CANDIDATE

8.25.44pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 24th Apr 2006

Hard earned Brent Council taxpayer's money is being spent by Brent Council promoting a Labour candidate in the local elections. This month's Brent Magazine which is distributed across 90,000 households in Brent features a prominent photo and article of a Labour candidate from Willesden Green ward.

Currently the Council is in its 'purdah' period which means that it cannot promote sitting Councillors. The Liberal Democrats are considering whether legal action needs to be taken.

The Liberal Democrats have also today written to Brent Labour Party asking them to pay towards the cost of the magazine.

Brent Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Councillor Paul Lorber said:

"This is a kick in the teeth for all Brent's hard working Council Tax payers. Local people will be astonished to learn that their hard earned cash is being used to promote Labour Party candidates.

"This year, election year, Labour decided to double the amount spent on the magazine. Tens of thousands of pounds is also being wasted on other glossy leaflets. Now we know why.

"Labour has more than doubled the Council Tax in Brent since 1997. They should pay back the cost of the magazine to the taxpayer.

"For the last two years the Liberal Democrats have proposed a freeze in Brent's Council tax. We would do this by cutting the amount the Council spends on this sort of self-publicity."

See below letter from Councillor Paul Lorber to Brent Labour Council Leader Ann John

Councillor Ann John

Leader of Brent Labour Council

Brent Town Hall

Forty Lane

Wembley

24th April 2006

RE: Brent Magazine May 2006

Dear Ann,

Since 1997 Labour has more than doubled the Council Tax in Brent. This has hit pensioners in Brent particularly hard. This year you again increased the Council Tax above the rate of inflation, whilst the Liberal Democrats again proposed a freeze.

May's edition of Brent Magazine features an article about a Labour Candidate in Willesden Green. This is outrageous abuse of Brent Council Tax payer's money.

As you have increased the Council Tax to record levels and money from that is now being used to promote a Labour candidate. Will Labour pay for the cost of this month's Brent Magazine as a sign of goodwill to Brent's Council Tax payers?

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Paul Lorber

Brent Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader