A LABOUR councillor who voted against his own party’s budget has been handed a six month suspension for defying the party whip.


But Clr Kevin Bennett (LAB - Fairfield and Howley) has hit out at the length of the suspension handed out by the party after already being suspended pending the ruling.


The action to suspend him was taken in April after Clr Bennett rebelled against the party’s budget.


At the time he told a council meeting in March: "Enough is enough, this administration is acting as agents of the coalition.


"Stop burying your heads in the sand and start listening to the alternatives.”


His action was followed by a vote to suspend him indefinitely and a party hearing on Tuesday saw him sanctioned with a six month suspension.


Speaking after the ruling Clr Bennett said: “It seems that the three months that I had already served while waiting for my appeal has not been taken into consideration.


“I have been told that I must abide by the Labour Group’s decisions while on suspension.


“I feel that I am being made an example of because Unite the union are supporting me.


“There was a precedent set in Hull when three Labour councillors voted against their budget.


“Two of them have had their suspensions reduced to three months and the third to six months, I have effectively got nine months suspension. I don't understand how they couldn't have taken into consideration the things that I have been put through.”

A spokesman for the Warrington Labour Group said: "Labour councillors are perfectly entitled to have differing opinions which they can put forward as part of any political debate. 

"But once the Labour Councillors as a Group have made a collective decision, all Labour councillors are expected to respect that. 

"The Coalition Government has slashed Warrington Borough Council’s funding by a massive £50 million which poses us many challenges but the Labour administration has both a legal and a moral obligation to the people of Warrington to set a balanced budget. 

"Clr Bennett has now apologised and he has acknowledged he was wrong to vote against the budget. 

"He has also committed, from now on, to respect any collective decisions made by the Labour Group and so, after his suspension is served, he will of course be welcomed back by his colleagues."