LABOUR is set to force through new caps on Blackburn with Darwen councillors’ expenses and allowances despite Tory and Liberal Democrat opposition.

Borough leader Kate Hollern’s plan to stop elected representatives claiming more than one responsibility allowance will be presented to tomorrow’s full council forum unamended.

Her new scheme will also bring in a cap of £25 a month for mobile phone bills paid by the town hall.

The new allowances, which peg the basic councillors allowance at £5,392, will be unchanged.

The scheme was authorised by the borough’s new Independent Remuneration Panel without change despite both the Tories and Lib Dems putting forward alternative proposals.

The total package will save the borough around £20,000 a year.

The Tories and Lib Dems oppose the scheme as Labour’s two deputy leaders Mohammed Khan and Andy Kay will both keep their extra payments of £11,019.60 a year on top of their basic allowance, £4,900 more than the normal executive board payment of £6,134.40.

The new scheme means senior Tories Alan Cottam and John Slater, who both get three allowances, will lose out £1,500 and £1,000 respectively.

Labour will have four councillors who lose £500 a year.

Tory leader Michael Lee and his Lib Dem counterpart David Foster both called for a full independent review.

Coun Hollern will use Labour’s majority to force through the changes tomorrow night.

Coun Lee and Coun Cottam have accused the Labour leader of ‘ double standards’ and ‘political point scoring’.

She hit back: “I am just looking after council taxpayers’ money.

“In tough times I have to justify every penny the borough spends.

“It’s ironic that it is Labour trying to save money and the Tories and Lib Dems opposing it.”