A COUNCILLOR who was criticised for going on a cruise despite being too ill to attend a council meeting has shared his doctor’s notes and claimed that Labour councillors are trying to discredit him.

Last week, a Labour councillor criticised Cllr Kevin Bennett for going on holiday while he missed September 7’s full council meeting due to an inflammation on the wall of his heart, back pain and sleeping problems.

In an email seen by the Warrington Guardian, Cllr Bennett disclosed his doctor’s notes with fellow members and said that the anonymous Labour councillor had indulged in a ‘nasty piece of tittle tattle’.

The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition councillor’s email said: “This is yet another pathetic attempt by individuals in the Labour group to discredit me.

“The Labour councillor who launched the attack doesn’t even have the courage to put their name to it but as always it doesn’t take a genius for everyone to work out who it is.

“As usual they have jumped onto a half truth and turned it into something else.

“This nasty piece of tittle tattle is testament to the way I have been treated by the leadership of the Labour group over the last five years or so and which has had a detrimental effect on my health.

“However, I will continue my fight to bring a true democratic administration to this town – never forget that democracy is from the bottom up and not top down.

“This article also says more about the anonymous Labour councillor than it does about me – remember that even when I was a member of the Labour group I was never afraid to put my name to my views and to stand up and be counted, even when I was a lone voice.

“Sadly our anonymous colleague – we all know who it is, it wasn’t hard to find out from other Labour councillors – doesn’t have the same courage.

Cllr Bennett’s wife booked their cruise last minute to allow him to recuperate, and the Fairfield and Howley councillor only returned to full health on September 25.

He added: “I truly hope that nobody has to go through the pain that I have endured during the last eight weeks or so as I wouldn’t wish that onto anybody.

“My wife was convinced that she was going to lose me when I was first rushed into hospital with chest pains so this has been a very upsetting time for her, and these accusations show the lack of any compassion from certain factions within the Labour group for a fellow human being.

“I will be at the next full council meeting with my head held high as I have nothing to hide unlike some of you – those of you who wish me ill will have to wait even longer to get rid of me.”