A CONTROVERSIAL Labour Party fundraiser organised by Hull MP Karl Turner has been postponed.
The £45-a-head dinner, billed as The Hull and Humber Economic Summit, was organised by Mr Turner and was to have involved Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls.
But last week Hull East Labour MP Mr Turner was criticised for using the summit as a party fundraiser and misusing his parliamentary position to attract guests.
East Riding conservative councillor Mike Whitehead led the criticism saying posters promoting the event made no reference to it being a Labour Party fundraiser.
Mr Whitehead also queried why ticket sales have been organised using parliamentary email accounts, in breach of House of Commons rules.
Mr Turner and his supporters had argued that it was obvious the summit was a Labour party event. However, Mr Turner has now decided to stave off further criticism by calling off the event.
He says he has now postponed the summit and referred himself to the parliamentary standards commissioner.
He told the Mail: "It has been postponed because I have had a serious allegation made against me.
"As a result, I have decided to refer myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
"Given there is this allegation, that is the right thing to do."
The event was due to be held at the Freedom Centre, in Preston Road.
Advertised speakers lined up for the event included Mr Balls, former Hull East MP and Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Hull City Council leader Councillor Steve Brady.
Speaking to the Mail on Thursday Mr Turner admitted breaking the rules by sending out invitations to the event from parliamentary email accounts.
Mr Turner said the use of parliamentary email accounts had been an oversight.
He told the Mail it should not have happened, but that the cost to the taxpayer was 'pence rather than pounds'.
