OPEN warfare has broken out in a constituency Labour Party over comments made by their MP.

Kevan Jones, MP for Durham North, hit the headlines last month when he called for Chester-le-Street and Derwentside district councils to be abolished - adding that Derwentside council was "about as popular as a dose of the plague".

Those comments provoked a furious response from Derwentside council's Labour group.

A letter sent by its secretary, Oswald Johnson, to Mr Jones, said: "Your behaviour can only be described as despicable and unforgiving.

"Derwentside district Labour group demands a public apology and a retraction of your statement."

A reply by an unrepentant Mr Jones read: "I have spent a great deal of time getting to know the views and problems of my constituents, including those in the Stanley area.

"Whether yourself, or the council as an entity, realises it or not, Derwentside District Council has not got a good name among local people in my constituency.

"It is my job as MP to articulate and represent the views of the people who elected me and not simply ignore them.

"It is interesting that since the meeting the only people who seemed to disagree with my comments, and you are the first to actually have the courage to write to me, have been councillors. The opposite has been the case with local people."

Mr Johnson declined to speak about the matter, but Alex Watson, leader of Derwentside District Council, said: "I hope our differences can be resolved and I am more than willing to work with Kevan in the interests of the area, although I think his comments were unfair."

Mr Jones' comment about abolishing district councils were made at a public meeting in Stanley on June 27. He was speaking on a Government White Paper which recommends a major shake- up in local government.