Council Leader must come clean about untrue claims

10.01.00am GMT Wed 20th Dec 2006

Councillor Paul Battye has written to the Leader of Council demanding a retraction of comments concerning the Leaders' "Re-invention" of Christmas (1).

Huddersfield Town Hall

At today's meeting of the Cabinet, Councillor Battye branded statements by the Leader of Council as wholly inaccurate and deceptive. In a letter to Councillor Robert Light, Councillor Battye is demanding an apology and retraction of these misleading statements.

"I have overwhelming evidence that he is just wrong" said Councillor Battye.

"I have checked with the managers at the Halls and they told me that the sign on Huddersfield Town Hall reads 'Merry Christmas' (left hand side) 'from Kirklees Council' on the right hand side of the centre balcony on Ramsden Street. Batley, Cleckheaton and Dewsbury Town Halls all have a 'Merry Christmas' sign. As far as we can all remember these have remained so for many years. None of us can remember them saying anything else" says Councillor Battye. "Councillor Light has also asserted that the Christmas cards sent out last year did not refer to Christmas. This is also untrue."

"This is not the first time that Councillor Light has had to retract inaccurate statements since he became Leader of the Council. He must come clean now" says Councillor Battye. "I have taken this up after complaints from local residents about Councillor Light's negative portrayal of the Christmas lights display."