THE war of words between two local politicians has intensified with the leader of Ealing Council accusing a local MP of "seeking to destabilise the community".

Last week Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing-Southall, accused council leader, Councillor Jason Stacey, of creating an east, west divide in the borough by neglecting Southall and investing in Ealing.

Cllr Stacey said: "Mr Sharma has hit a new low in his attempts to attract attention away from his own shortcomings.

"By seeking to suggest that one community in the borough is getting more than another I believe he is seeking to destabilise community relations and set one area off against another.

"Mr Sharma clearly has not seen the announcement by the council last week of the investment going to improve Southall town centre and the commitment given to deliver a new car park in the town.

"He does not recognise either the significant additional investment that has gone into Southall in terms of street cleansing, refuse and recycling and community safety.

"I say to Mr Sharma instead of making wild statements about east/west divides and one area getting more than another, I challenge him to come forward and substantiate his claims."

Cllr Stacey called on Mr Sharma to resign from his £9,000-a-year council seat for Norwood Green, accusing the 60-year-old, who has been a councillor for more than 25 years, of failing to represent his ward, by failing to turn up to meetings.

He told the Ealing Times: "I see also that Mr Sharma has now registered another foreign trip, four in just six months as an MP, yet does not find the time to attend council meetings to represent his constituents.

"If Mr Sharma has any credibility left, he would resign immediately from the council and allow someone else to come forward to do the job properly."