A war of words has broken out between Tory and Labour councillors in Wolverhampton, who are blaming each other over plans to raise the cost of school milk by up to 50 per cent.
Both parties have accused the other of being responsible for the planned rise, which would be the first in Wolverhampton since 2002 and will push prices up from £4 to £6 a term.
The ruling Tory-Liberal Democrat alliance say the previous Labour administration decided to push forward with the hike before the May local elections, but their rivals have branded this “grossly untrue”.
Councillor Phil Page, shadow cabinet member for schools, said: “The new administration want to take all the credit for the good things we started and blame us for school milk. When we were in power, the cabinet member for schools asked officers to go through the budget to determine what savings could be made.
“But there was no plan put forward to increase the school milk. I would like to challenge the ruling group to provide us with the evidence if they think we planned it.”
The price rise was mooted this month because of rising food prices and the cost of transporting the milk.
The council’s schools chief Councillor Gill Fellows, has said: “It was recommended by the Labour group before the elections and we are looking into it.”
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