LABOUR has defended its decision to grant £40,000 to a centre that produced controversial T-shirts celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher.
The allocation to Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centre was approved by the county council's cabinet – on the condition that the cash is spent on supporting people who are out of work.
The centre, which offers advice to benefit claimants, was condemned last year for selling T-shirts it invited people to wear as and when Margaret Thatcher died.
At the time – seven months before Mrs Thatcher's death – it sparked a heated debate among county councillors, with Labour's Brian Lucas admitting he would "raise a glass on the day she died".
They were words that the Tory benches described as "sickening".
Labour's decision to award the Chesterfield centre £39,750 has now refuelled the row.
Councillor Andrew Lewer, leader of the Tory opposition, which withdrew the centre's council grant in 2010, hit out at the move.
He said the group was only interested in supporting unemployed people in Chesterfield and north-east Derbyshire, rather than the whole of the county.
And he insisted the centre was ineligible for taxpayers' cash as it had a "political and campaigning agenda".
Mr Lewer said: "In 2010, we ensured fairness and equity in the provision of advice services for unemployed people and those on benefits throughout the county, not just in Labour heartlands.
"Labour has clearly reverted to type and has chosen to use taxpayers' money to support a group that has a left-wing political and campaigning agenda that, despite flimsy assurances, has not left those militant roots behind.
"The public purse is not there to support Labour's friends."
Council leader Anne Western defended her party's decision to award the grant.
She said: "There's an easy answer to this. Prior to the election, with the previous [Tory] administration in charge, the then chief executive and his team were satisfied there was a clear separation between the work the centre does in terms of benefits advice and their lobbying work.
"It's absolutely clear they have never used taxpayers' money to do anything in terms of lobbying. I am satisfied of that."
