TAXPAYER-funded trips to the Queen’s Garden Party are to become a thing of the past in Blackburn with Darwen because of spending cuts.

And a £5,000 free buffet following the annual mayor-making ceremony also faces the axe.

Labour council leader Kate Hollern said the annual trip to Buckingham Palace cost £1,668 last year and could ‘not be justified’ as the authority looks to slash £28million from its budget.

Vital services for older people, children and road maintenance all face cuts.

But a councillor who went last year, Tory Alan Cottam, disputed the savings figures.

He said he had paid for himself, branding the move a ‘political gesture’.

Meanwhile instead of the traditional buffet, held at King George’s Hall for councillors and their partners after May’s mayor-making ceremony, a smaller party will be invited and no food will be served.

Coun Hollern said: “We are looking at every penny we spend.

“And I do not think in the current climate that it’s a good use of resources.

“If things don’t add value to a service, we will look closely at them.”

She said it was ‘an absolute nonsense’ to send two drivers to carry the council’s delegation to the Queen’s party.

Her Conservative opposite number, Michael Lee, said he favoured reducing the costs of the mayor-making celebration but insisted it was an ‘important’ event that needed to be marked.

Peter Britcliffe, the leader of neighbouring Hyndburn Council, criticised his Blackburn counterpart, adding: “She seems to be ‘dragging every ounce of publicity out of the spending cuts she has to make.”