TORY MP Sir Michael Spicer has been labelled "out-of-touch" with his own Conservative colleagues after his attack on Malvern Town Council for its council tax increase.

He criticised the council for an increase of £35 - the equivalent of 67p per week - and blamed it on the Liberal Democrats.

But Lib Dem spokesman Mike Hadley hit back at the West Worcestershire MP.

"For his information, there were 20 of the town's 25 councillors at the meeting who agreed the increase," he said.

"Of those, only one, a Green, voted against the increase. All 19 others - including the Conservative members - voted for the 67p-a-week rise necessary for the various projects planned for the coming year.

"In his statement, Sir Michael described the increase as 'too high even allowing for the inadequacy of the Labour Government's support for the local authorities'.

"I think he should spend more time in the constituency and he would be better able to assess the performance of the town council."