Comments made at a full council meeting that residents living in the leafy Trafford suburbs of Bowdon and Hale Barns were ‘living in ivory towers’ have sparked an angry backlash from the council’s Conservative opposition leader.

Cllr Nathan Evans has written to Labour council leader Tom Ross demanding an apology over the remarks made by Cllr Simon Thomas in a heated debate over the the government’s withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.

During the discussion, Cllr Thomas told the meeting his father-in-law didn’t need the £300 allowance even though he is on pension credit – now the main qualification for receiving the payment.

He also said his mother who is in her 80s had told him ‘she wouldn’t miss it – never in a million years’.

He went on: “Yes, there are a lot of pensioners out there, that desperately need help, but it needs to be targeted.

“And once the chancellor has sorted the mess out [left by the previous government] we might be able to help people even more.

"Those in the ivory towers that, let’s be honest, the people that most of the Tories represent in Bowden and Hale Barns that don’t need £300 in most cases can then move on.”

In his letter to Cllr Ross, Cllr Evans, who represents the Hale Barns and Timperley South ward, said: “Putting aside my party’s position on the winter fuel allowance – namely that its removal is unnecessary, pernicious and counterproductive – and the fact the Labour group’s position is to support is removal, the remarks made by Cllr Thomas are simply beyond the pale.

“Robust political debate is par for the course – and indeed what our residents rightly expect from the vibrant democratic institution we both serve.

“However, Cllr Thomas’s smear was factually wrong, and an example of extreme bigotry and prejudice which is unbecoming of a Trafford councillor.”

He said that, to date, CllrThomas had ‘shamefully’ refused to offer an apology for his remarks.

Cllr Evans added: “In view of this, I am asking, as leader of the Labour group, that you confirm what action you will take to discipline this councillor.”

Cllr Thomas responded by saying: “I am planning to make a statement at the next council meeting to I’ve full clarification of the statement and language used.”