BRIDGWATER MP Ian Liddell-Grainger had a council leader edited out of an official photo taken to mark an historic occasion because he was “narked”, it has emerged this week.

The photo, taken at the office of Environment Secretary Liz Truss to celebrate the signing of the historic Somerset Rivers Authority, featured Ms Truss, Mr Liddell-Grainger and the leaders of all the local councils who have funded the new authority.

But when the picture appeared on Mr Liddell-Grainger’s blog, it had been doctored to remove Cllr Tim Taylor, the leader of West Somerset council and a fellow Tory.

Labour Party members seized on the airbrushed images as evidence of a rumoured feud in the Bridgwater and West Somerset Conservative Party.

Mr Liddell-Grainger denied there was a feud but told the Mercury he had been unimpressed with Cllr Taylor’s input during the forming of the new authority.

He said: “I was narked with him, to be perfectly honest. When we were in negotiations Tim didn’t turn up all the time.

“With something like the Rivers Authority that is so vital and symbolic you have to be part of the game.

“We were all working together and if you are the council chief you have to be involved ... you have to take part ... you need to be part of the team.”

The MP, who is standing for re-election in May, denied that the image had been uploaded to his website to make a point.

“My researcher put it up as a joke and it was taken straight off. He’s been severely reprimanded and that’s it,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.

“He shouldn’t have done it and to be quite honest I’ve got bigger things to be dealing with as I’m sure you can imagine.”

Cllr Tim Taylor has rejected the MP’s accusations, saying: “I have been to all but two of the meetings I was invited to.

“One I was at a Tory party conference and the other I was on holiday; however I was fully briefed by our lead member for the environment who attended in my place.

“The flooding on the levels doesn’t affect West Somerset as much as some of the other councils so I don’t get involved when people like the Environment Secretary come down to the area.

“There are people much more immediate and with much more experience to do that.

“Also the Rivers Authority isn’t concerned with coastal flooding which is something that does affect West Somerset.

“As a council we were asked to put in £5,000 to show solidarity with the other councils in Somerset which is what we have done.

“We couldn’t put any more in because quite simply we don’t have the money.”