Political row over Warrington Labour Party fundraiser

Warrington's branch of the Labour Party has opened a fundraising page on Crowdfunder, which aims to support the party with campaign costs in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.

Reacting online, members of the town's Conservative Party have lashed out at Labour for the fundraising move.

One of the images used on the crowdfunding page for the Labour Party in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft (Image: Warrington Labour Party)

Borough councillor, and president of Warrington's Conservative Party, Wendy Maisey posted on social media: "The usual brass neck and lack of self-awareness on display here.

"Labour is actually using their latest leaflet to ask local residents to ‘chip in’ to their campaign fund to get them elected.

"Incredibly, they advertise their begging bowl in the same sentence they mention the rising cost of living.

"Labour's erratic and dysfunctional Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft branch obviously don't know (or are too idle to learn) how to fundraise for themselves as the local Tory branch does.

"We have no donors but work hard to fundraise, get our message out and serve our community."

Cllr Maisey has lashed out at Warrington's Labour Party (Image: Cllr Wendy Maisey OBE)

Cllr Maisey added: "Apparently in Warrington, Labour just isn't Labour anymore. Why are they trying to fool the electorate?

"The people of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft voted overwhelmingly to bin Labour in May 2021.

"This latest example of their increasingly bizarre behaviour and them putting out a begging bowl for residents to fund their election just won't wash here."

Responding to Cllr Maisey's comments, a Labour Party spokesperson told the Warrington Guardian: "Like all political parties, Labour raise funds from a variety of sources including Labour Party members, members of the public, businesses and Trade Unions.

"And like the Conservatives have already done in Warrington and other parties have done across the country, one of our local branches of Labour Party members has set up an online tool to collect donations.

“The Labour movement was born out of communities like Warrington, hardworking people who Labour continues to stand up for at the Town Hall and in Parliament.

"All of those donating share our common goal to win at the next General Election and Local Election. 

"Any member of the public who would like to donate to the Labour Party can do so by visiting this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/labourcgc."

The Labour Party provided links to previous public fundraisers established by both the local Conservative Party - https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/warringtonsouthca/ - and the Liberal Democrats elsewhere in the UK - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/giving-voters-the-choice-to-vote-liberal-democrats