A LABOUR councillor was stunned when a letter asking him to contribute to Conservative Party funds arrived in the post.

Bill Taylor, deputy leader of Blackburn Borough Council, was sent a request for cash by Conservative party chairman Brian Mawhinney.

Mr Taylor, who also organises his party's election campaigns, said: "I couldn't help but laugh when I realised I had been sent one of these begging letters.

"I feel a bit sorry for them. The Conservatives are always going on about the inefficiency of local government, so it's ironic that they are having to stoop so low as to ask a prominent local Labour politician to fund them." "You'd think they would check before they start sending out this sort of thing. The next Mayor, Peter Greenwood, has also been targeted!"

The letter outlined to Mr Taylor that he could "provide an essential part of the Conservative election machine" and that "a £20 donation would go straight towards communicating to 4,000 people".

A spokesperson for Mr Mawhinney's office in London, said: "All political parties have mailing lists and its is very difficult to check out all the people on them. In fact, some Conservative MPs have received letters asking to support Labour.

"The letter tells about the dangers of New Labour, so at least some good has come out of it if Labour councillors have been given a warning."

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