The former leader of Northumberland County Council has issued an apology to one of the county's MPs after making what was described as "false and defamatory statements" relating to expenses.
Former Northumberland Labour leader Grant Davey, who served as council leader between 2013 and 2017 and served as councillor for the Kitty Brewster ward, apologised to Conservative Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy on Monday.
Coun Davey, who continues to serve on Blyth Town Council, had posted a video making false allegations around Mr Levy's parliamentary expenses. The two men actually ran against each other in the 2017 local elections for the Kitty Brewster ward, with Coun Davey receiving 511 votes to Mr Levy's 339.
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Coun Davey's statement said: "I recently posted a video about Ian Levy MP that featured defamatory statements relating to his parliamentary expenses claims.
"I sincerely apologise to Mr Levy, his family, and his staff for the distress this has caused."
Responding to the statement, Mr Levy said: "I am used to receiving criticism and challenge and accept this as part of political life. Occasionally however, a line is crossed and that was the case in some recent social media posts making damaging false statements about me.
"These statements were shared by former Northumberland Labour leader Coun Grant Davey. I am pleased that Coun Grant Davey has now issued an apology and agreed a legal settlement of costs and damages, acknowledging that he spread damaging false statements about me.
"I am a firm believer in robust political debate, but there is a line between this and people spreading lies designed to cause anger and revulsion about politicians."
Fifty-six-year-old Mr Levy was elected as Blyth Valley MP in the 2019 election, with a majority of 1.7 per cent. He is the first Conservative to represent the constituency since its creation in 1950.
Earlier this year, he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office.
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