AN e-mail has been sent to every councillor in the town claiming that one of them is trying to recruit unpaid workers – ignoring national minimum wage guidelines.

Clr Jo Crotty is the target of the e-mail claiming that the Warrington South Lib Dem MP hopeful has been advertising for an intern to work for her without pay.

But the Bewsey and Whitecross member says that the mystery e-mailer’s allegations are incorrect as not only does she not have any interns working for her but it is also within legal guidelines to take on interns.

She said: “The party has guidelines on how we advertise for interns. We have interns and we have always paid them expenses and worked within the law.”

The e-mailer first contacted Clr Crotty earlier this year and she approached the Lib Dem base in London who sent the e-mailer details from Hansard, the official report of Parliament, explaining the laws governing political interns that parties should follow.

But last month the original e-mail was sent on to every member of the council detailing duties an intern would do, including ‘street surgeries, canvassing and delivery; writing of press releases, leaflets and target mailings; printing and all other aspects of campaigning’.

Yet Clr Crotty says the details were just to give an idea as to what work they might do.

“It’s not that we want to employ people and not pay them any money, we have not broken any rules,” she added. “He just wouldn’t accept any explanation as to why we offer internships.”

The e-mailer says that an intern is not an official job category but falls under the remit of volunteer.

They add that guidelines point out that if volunteers are expected to carry out specific tasks they are liable to be paid the minimum wage compared to volunteers who can turn up and work when and how they want, and are therefore not entitled to pay.

Clr Crotty added that the e-mailer had sent the same type of e-mail to more than 60 seats across the country asking the same question and that all political parties took on interns and both sides benefit from internships.