THE row surrounding the council leader and two councillors over accusations of voting against the living wage continues to rumble on.

Council leader, Terry O'Neill, said Cllr Stefan Krizanac (LD - Westbrook) and Warrington South's Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate, Kevin Bennett, 'voted against the living wage' last month after the pair opposed the budget report.

Cllr Bennett has affirmed his intention to take legal action, while Cllr Krizanac raised the matter directly with Cllr O'Neill (LAB - Burtonwood and Winwick) at Monday's extraordinary council meeting and is now set to 'take other steps'.

Cllr O'Neill did not directly respond to the Warrington North candidate but said last Thursday that he would not be apologising.

"It is not acceptable for any party to make false statements to try and discredit their opponents," said Cllr Bennett.

"Their parliamentary candidate is a sinking ship who is losing credibility all the time - that is why the Labour council leader has resorted to telling lies about both Cllr Krizanac and me, it is a sign of their desperation.

"I did not vote against the living wage - there was nothing in Labour's budget about the living wage - the matter has not even been approved by the executive board.

"I will be speaking to Cllr Krizanac to explore the possibility of joint legal action against the Labour councillors who are perpetrating these smears."

Cllr Bennett, who also represents TUSC for Fairfield and Howley, has also threatened Cllr Tony Higgins (LAB - Fairfield and Howley) with legal action.

The Labour councillor confirmed he will not be issuing an an apology and called for his former party colleague to focus on the people of his ward.

"I will not be apologising - what I said is that he was voting against the budget report which is effectively voting against the people of Fairfield and Howley," said Cllr Higgins.

"He has divorced himself of his responsibilities to Fairfield and Howley to fight an election in the south - he was not selected to fight in the south by residents in Fairfield and Howley.

"When they put an x in the box they wanted Kevin to represent them - Kevin has chosen to go to the south and to me that is what we should be getting angry about, I am angry about that.

"I don’t make political statements, I don’t play politics, I never play politics. I represent Fairfield and Howley - that is who I fight for."