LABOUR councillors in Blackburn and Darwen are urging the Government to change direction in the row over benefit cuts for single parents.

Councillors at Blackburn Town Hall took the decision to speak out against their own party leaders at a group meeting on Saturday.

The move by the ruling Labour group could cause embarrassment for the parliamentary party at Westminster.

Constituency MPs Jack Straw and Janet Anderson are both leading members of New Labour and the Government.

The councillors voted to bring a motion to the next full meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council opposing benefit cuts to lone parents.

The party wants to suspend the policy which freezes payments to lone parents until a review of the benefits system has been completed.

The Labour group holds a massive majority in the council chamber and there is little chance of the motion being thrown out. Once the council has passed the motion, a formal letter will be sent to the Government as well as Jack Straw and Janet Anderson.

The move follows Pendle MP Gordon Prentice's decision to vote against the Government over the issue.

Mr Prentice was disciplined for breaking the party whip on the crucial vote.

Opposition politicians will be delighted at the split in Labour's ranks and the motion is likely to spark a furious debate.

Council leader Malcolm Doherty said: "I suppose this is critical of the Government's policy but it is meant to bring about a positive outcome.

"We are urging them to delay any decisions and policies until a full scale review of the benefits system has been completed."

Wensley Fold councillor Don Rishton said: "I think it is diabolical that we are proposing cuts after we have had 18 years of a Conservative Government attacking the benefits system.

"This will not change anything but it is about time somebody made a stand against what has been going on."

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