THE Labour and Conservative Parties in Barrow have engaged in a war of words over 'Partygate' after the Metropolitan Police announced it would not be issuing any further updates until after the May 5 elections.

Leader of the borough council Ann Thomson suggested pressure had 'been applied at a senior level' and felt the decision would unfairly impact votes by protecting 'the Conservatives from yet more negative publicity'.

Cllr Thomson was speaking out on the ongoing saga involving lockdown-busting events at 10 Downing Street and Whitehall - with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak having been fined for their involvement.

However, the Barrow and Furness Conservative party hit back, with its leader, Cllr Les Hall, saying he did not think it was 'wise for the Labour leader of Barrow Council to be accusing the police of corruption and conspiracy'.

"Meanwhile, we back our police," said Cllr Hall.

"That is why Cumbria has more than a hundred more police officers on our streets, with more on the way, as part of our plan for safer streets."

Cllr Thomson said the decision not to reveal any further updates until after May 5 would benefit the Conservatives who were, she felt, 'bracing themselves for a potentially bumpy ride at the polling stations'.

"Many people have already decided who they are going to vote for, and lots of voters are telling us it won't be the Tories," she said.

“The police are supposed to work in the interests of the people, and people are entitled to have the facts before they make their decision at the ballot box."

Cllr Hall said that Labour had 'no plan'. 

He said the Labour Party 'play politics' and 'waste money'.

“We’re the second-worst local authority for recycling," he said.

"We’ve got streets with litter piled high because of Labour’s bin chaos, meaning that 33,000 homes didn’t have their bins emptied for months."