A LABOUR councillor has come under fire for suggesting Allerdale Conservatives suffer from a mental illness known as ‘Munchausen Syndrome’.

Councillor Tony Lywood’s comments were branded “disgusting” amid claims he was using a recognised psychiatric problem to score political points. Earlier in the same meeting a motion was passed calling on Allerdale council to provide an environment free from unfair treatment, harassment, bullying, victimisation or other forms of illegal discrimination against all disabled persons.

Mr Lywood, who represents Keswick, said: “Munchausen Syndrome is where someone tries to draw attention to themselves to get praise or sympathy by offering a solution to an issue they themselves have caused. This is a well-known documented illness but is usually done where the perpetrator does the deed in private and the rescue in public.

“Not so my Conservative colleagues here who are part of a party and Government that has publicly and openly cut services for the people of Allerdale.”

The fiery exchange was triggered in a heated meeting of the borough’s full council last night (March 6) which saw a Conservative amendment to the Labour budget defeated.

Responding to Mr Lywood’s comments, which were made during Allerdale’s full council meeting, Conservative councillor Alan Pitcher told him they were offended by his remarks. “We have had a motion tonight on disability and we all passed it,” he said. “I would like to say to councillor Lywood ‘I take offence to your reference to Munchausen disease’. How do you know I’m not sat here with that in my family? Mental health is a big issue this year. I suggest you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re disgusting.”

Mark Fryer, deputy leader of the council, said the political climate had become “rather vicious” over the last 12 months, particularly on social media, and that he was “almost turned off” by it. He added: “If I had anything to say to anybody it’s been said in here, it hasn’t been said hiding behind a keyboard which is probably the worst type of approach you could have. It’s scurrilous. You can say things that you wouldn’t normally say to people. You can call them liars.”

Independent councillor Bill Jefferson also made a plea for “decency” in the chamber.