Telford MP's row over Remembrance service rumbles on

Telford MP Lucy Allan accused the parish council leaders at Dawley, Madeley and Oakengates of not permitting her to attend as MP or lay a wreath.

But the parish councils said their local events were organised by the Royal British Legion, and that it was not their role to send out invites.

It comes days after Ms Allan tweeted that it was a “big shame” that Telford & Wrekin Council “excluded” their local elected representatives from services.

But in a response the council said that she was invited to the services that it had organised, and that she would be welcome to attend if she wished.

Ms Allan said: “It has always been a struggle to get Senior Cabinet members of Telford and Wrekin Council to accept that they have a Conservative Member of Parliament and to include me in local events.

“An example of this is that is what happens on Remembrance Sunday.

“I have not ever been invited to the main Remembrance Sunday Service and have never laid a wreath at the Remembrance Sunday service.

“This main Remembrance Day Service is held on rotation in Dawley, Madeley or Oakengates.

“The Labour Councillors in charge of the Parish Councils organising these events – Councillors Davies, Watling and Reynolds respectively – have not permitted me to attend as an MP or to lay a wreath. It is disappointing that these senior councillors on Telford & Wrekin Council allow politics to get in the way on such an important event.

“However, I have always found plenty of other events to attend on Remembrance Sunday, where politics does not come into it and where I am welcome to lay a Parliamentary wreath on behalf of my constituents and I do so with great pride.”

In a statement, the council said: “We can confirm that an invitation was issued to Telford MP Lucy Allan to two Remembrance events the Council is organising.

“The first event is a Remembrance Day event at Telford Town Park on November 11. Ms Allan’s office declined an invitation to the Town Park event in an email sent to the council on September 26.

“The second event is the Festival of Remembrance at the Oakengates Theatre on November 12. Ms Allan’s office initially accepted her invitation to the Festival of Remembrance on September 28, however then sent a further email declining this invitation on November 3.

“Should Ms Allan wish to come to this year’s Remembrance events in the borough, she will be most welcome.”

Great Dawley Town Council and Madeley Town Council said local Remembrance services were organised externally by the Royal British Legion. Nobody at Oakengates Town Council could be reached for comment.

The Royal British Legion has also been asked to comment