THERE was drama in Westminster this week after a Somerset MP accused council 'cowboys' of misusing Government Covid grants to 'balance its books' - a claim the council denies.

In the House of Commons on Wednesday (January 6) Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger asked the Prime Minister to 'intervene and stop' Somerset County Council (SCC) who he claims have been 'diverting' Covid grant funding to balance their books.

But SCC has denied the claims and said it will be writing to the Prime Minister directly to 'set the record straight.'

Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “In my constituency we accept that lockdown was vital and we appreciate

the extra help for businesses.

"But will my Rt Hon Friend urgently consider the way government help for local authorities is paid.

"Somerset County Council was given huge grants and then diverted much of the money to balance the books.

"These cowboys want to become a new unitary authority. It is a cruel con trick using cash that was meant to fight Covid.

"The Prime Minister is Somerset born and bred. I urge him to intervene and put a stop to it now.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked Mr Liddell-Grainger for 'drawing attention to what is going on' and said the county has 'a duty' to use the funds correctly.

He said: “My Hon Friend is absolutely right to highlight what is going on in Somerset where the county has a duty to use Covid grants for that purpose and not for any other and I thank him for drawing attention to what is going on.”

But a spokesperson for SCC said: “We will be writing directly to the Prime Minister to set the record straight, but we can confirm that ALL Covid grants received from the Government have been used as they were intended – to help residents, communities and businesses in Somerset.”