LABOUR party fundraisers have been quick to pour cold water on accusations that they used a Bolton people's venue for a ball for mayoral hopeful Andy Burnham at the weekend.

 

The mayoral fundraiser at Bolton’s Albert Halls on Saturday night was questioned by Conservatives who believed the council would be picking up the bill.

 

But Labour party bosses pointed out that they hired the venue for the Andy Burnham ball and the Labour party footed the bill.

However Tory leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, who found out about the fundraiser from a Labour councillor on Thursday, believes it was still inappropriate for the party to use a council venue for political use.

 

He said: “This town hall belongs to the people of Bolton, and I believe it is completely inappropriate for any political party to use it as a venue to raise money for political campaigning.

 

“I will certainly be asking for details of how much the Labour party has paid to rent the room, and bars, and how this sum has been arrived at, as no proposals to my knowledge of any fees structure for the Albert Halls have gone before any committee; but even if the Labour party say they are paying the going rate, I still believe this is a wholly unacceptable.

 

“We are less than a few weeks away from the Greater Manchester Mayoral Elections, and in my view for the local Labour party to wine and dine the Labour candidate at those elections and raise money for Labour party campaigns, in this town's historic civic town hall, is a flagrant abuse of power.

 

“I'm sorry to say once again, a display of arrogance with a feeling of 'we will do as we like because Labour in Bolton are untouchable’.”

 

Labour Cllr Nick Peel, who was involved in organising the event, which attracted more than 180 people, said the allegation was ‘scandalous’.

 

He added: “It’s an absolutely ridiculous allegation to make. They are judging us by their own low standards.

 

“The Bolton Labour Party are keen to promote our town hall and its facilities.

 

“We chose this venue in order to bring in income through Bolton halls, which this fundraiser will do.”

 

Cllr Greenhalgh claimed the party was organised ‘secretively’ and he only found out after a councillor mentioned John Prescott would be in town.

 

Cllr Peel said: “We advertised the event through emails and word of mouth. It’s a Labour party, so no wonder Conservatives were not invited.

 

“But if the Bolton Tories are upset about not being invited, they can donate towards Andy Burnham’s mayoral campaign in other ways.”

 

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “Compare the news of this fundraising dinner to a year ago when Nigel Farage visited Bolton Town Hall, and was asked to leave the premises because he was taking a picture outside the UKIP members' room, being told to leave because he was using the town hall for his own political ends. Once again, Labour's double standards.

 

“Millions of pounds of Bolton council tax payers’ money has been spent to do up the town hall, the official opening was on Friday, and the first big event in the festival hall is a lavish Labour party fundraiser. This is not acceptable.”

 

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “This is a commercial venture which has been fully funded by the Labour party.

 

“It is a long-standing booking for a private event, for which standard commercial rates have been charged.”