LIBERAL democrats in Lancashire have accused Labour councillors of wasting £4million on first class rail fares, hospitality and other perks, despite raising taxes.

But the county council's majority Labour group have hit back saying the Liberal budget was full of "half truths" and would have been declared illegal if it was put into practice.

Each year, when the Labour group puts forward its budget, opposition parties propose their alternatives. For many years they have attacked money spent on councillors' perks and have raised the pitch of their attack this year in the light of an 8.5 per cent council tax increase and £12million of cuts.

Lib-Dem deputy leader Coun Tim Farron said: "We believe that spending money on schools is more important than spending on councillors' perks.

"Labour and the Conservatives have once again ganged up to prevent Liberal Democrats forcing the council to cut waste and to direct more money into schools, social services and road safety." County finance chairman Chris Cheetham said: "Every year the Liberals attempt to play to the populist vote and talk about sleaze and waste and bureaucracy then fiddle around on the margins. Their proposals are a mish-mash of half truth and omission.

"Money is spent on conferences and hospitality and on businesses and the media. Liberal Democrats attend these functions as well. They are very important because they keep Lancashire in the attention, not only of people from this country but from abroad as well.

"The Liberal democrats went against the treasurer's advice in producing their budget and if put into practice there is a good chance it would be declared illegal."

Conservatives put forward a budget which would have restricted the council tax rise to five per cent, and rejected Lib-Dem claims that they had "ganged up" with Labour.

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