A DISTRICT MP has mocked Bradford Council for allowing its employees to "work from the beach".

Last week, figures obtained by the TaxPayers' Alliance, showed 49 members of staff at Bradford Council were granted the right to work while overseas between 2021 and 2023.

Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore (Conservatives) took this as an opportunity to poke fun at the council for having the sixth-highest number across the country - behind the likes of Leeds City Council (74).

He shared a picture where City Hall has been positioned on a beach with the heading "Costa Del Bradford".

One of the sunbathers on the beach can also be seen saying "Thanks Susan!" - in reference to Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe.

The picture was accompanied by Mr Moore tweeting: "You could not make this up.

"Labour claim to be voice of hardworking people - but it seems they are more interested in pouring Pina Coladas than delivering for Keighley and Ilkley. 

"About time they got off their sun loungers and got back to work."

The TaxPayers' Alliance sent freedom of information requests to all 383 councils in the UK.

The results showed council bosses nationally have granted more than 1,350 requests to work from overseas.

In a column for the T&A, Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said: "Presumably office buildings are not being fully utilised – wasting more money."

The T&A asked the Council about the image shared by Mr Moore, but the local authority chose to double down on the statement it issued last week in connection with the issue.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We do not have any employees based abroad.
"Every employee of the Council has a UK postcode, what’s more, 82% of them live in the Bradford district.

"At any given time we have a small number of staff given permission to access their work devices while abroad, usually on leave, to deal with urgent matters. Our records show that today we have nine such employees.

"These arrangements are, by their nature, temporary, and permission is only granted in exceptional circumstances.

“Bradford Council like most other local authorities across the country at the moment is managing in a very challenging financial climate after many years of reduced funding from government, followed by the pandemic and inflation crisis.

"The Local Government Association says councils face a ÂŁ3bn funding gap over the next two years just to maintain services at current levels.

"The Council has a range of financial controls in place to ensure effective financial management and regularly reviews spending and opportunities to reduce costs or generate income."