Labour Councillor Colleen Harwood plays game on phone whilst £83M budget cuts were being discussed.

A LABOUR councillor in Notts has been criticised for playing a game on her mobile phone – while £83 million of budget cuts were being discussed.

Colleen Harwood was spotted from the public gallery but defended her actions by suggesting that she could multi-task as she was a woman.

This took place during Notts County Council’s budget meeting when cuts to services and more than 750 job losses were passed.

Councillor Harwood, a branch secretary for the GMB union, and was elected to serve Mansfield East at the last election in May.

Tweeting from the meeting on Thursday, Councillor Harwood said: “As a woman, I can do many things including listen, write stuff and even play on my phone.

“If I had not paid attention, then fair enough but was fully up to speed with everything that occurred today.”

But Liberal Democrat leader Jason Zadrozny – who was speaking while councillor Harwood was caught – was not impressed.

He said: “This was one of the most important meetings that I have been to at this council and it’s disgraceful that councillors can sit there and play on their phones.

“We were talking about services that will impact on people’s lives and we have a councillor who may well have been trying to get a high score in Flappy Bird.

“I know that people use their phones and iPads during meetings, but this is meant to check agenda items, e-mails or send out tweets – not for playing games.

“She made a mistake and I’m sure the people in the area she represents will be outraged that she wasn’t listening to the debate.”

And Conservative leader Kay Cutts said: “It is easier to see what is happening from high up in the public gallery than when you are in the council chamber, but if this is the case I am shocked and outraged that a councillor would be playing a game on their mobile phone during a serious budget debate directly affecting the lives of everyone in Nottinghamshire.

“We were discussing Labour’s proposals to close children’s centres, youth clubs, day centres, respite care accommodation and waste tips. Surely this was worthy of her attention, or does she not care?”

We contacted councillor Harwood for comment but she declined.

Vote BNP to get rid of this scum.