THE increasingly bitter war of words over the controversial axing of the 'Mayor's fiver' Christmas bonus has moved from Pendle to Westminster.

Five Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled an Early Day Motion attacking Pendle Labour MP Gordon Prentice for his criticism of the move, which was agreed on the same day that Pendle Council handed out long-service awards to 35 staff.

Meanwhile, Mr Prentice has refused to apologise to council chief executive Stephen Barnes for linking the scrapping of the £5 Christmas bonus to the over-80s with the long-service presentation. The MP has called for a review of the long-service awards and whether senior managers should receive them.

The EDM deplores the criticisms made by Mr Prentice of the service awards and congratulates the Liberal-controlled council on its 'enlightened' employment policies. It also congratulates the council on tackling its financial difficulties and points out that Pendle was the only council in Lancashire to make the Christmas payment.

Mr Prentice caused a storm of protest after criticising the decision to scrap the bonus on the day the service awards were made.

Mr Barnes called on the MP to apologise, but Mr Prentice is standing firm. "I have told the chief executive I have absolutely no intention of apologising," he said. "The very idea is preposterous."

Mr Prentice said it was the council's senior managers, including Mr Barnes, who recommended the bonus be axed.

"The whole thing is crying out for a review," he added.

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