Tories call for boycott of council Christmas dinner

Bradford Council's Tory group has announced it will not attend any Christmas meal held this year on the taxpayer as the fallout from revelations about last year's dinner continues.

The Yorkshire Post revealed on Friday that the council spent 3,568 on a two-course turkey Christmas meal for councillors last December – equivalent to 35-a-head.

Bradford's 30 Conservative councillors decided at a group meeting yesterday that if the meal does go ahead they will ask not to be served anything.

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Last December's meal, held at a full council meeting, cost more than six other Yorkshire authorities spent in total on refreshments during the whole of last year.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Conservative group leader, said: "In light of the shocking cost of the turkey dinner last year, I can confirm that if a Christmas dinner is to be provided for this year's council meeting, they will need to provide for 30 less diners than normal, as the Conservative group will not partaking.

"Times are tough and money needs to be spent very carefully indeed. That said, I am hopeful that there will be an agreement between the major political groups to alleviate any excessive expense this year.

"We need to bring sanity into council spending and the Conservative group will be asking the council to find ways of reducing catering costs for all meetings dramatically."

Councillor Ian Greenwood, Bradford Council leader, is talking to all the political parties before deciding whether to hold the meal next month – but said it should not take place.