Veteran councillor fights for life after collapsing following impassioned speech

Coun Tony Jones, the longest serving member of Lancashire County Council, is understood to be in an induced coma at Blackpool Victoria Hospital following the drama at County Hall on Friday.

The former Tory had criticised the way the county council is being run and had warned Conservative councillors they risked incurring huge personal costs if they insisted on pushing ahead with a controversial management restructure.

Minutes later he slumped in his seat and collapsed.

Shocked councillors filed out of the chamber, many on the verge of tears, as efforts were made to revive him.

Those attempting to aid him included County Coun John Fillis, deputy leader of the Labour group who is a trained nurse and BBC Radio Lancashire reporter Mike Stevens who was sitting near the councillor when he collapsed.

A medical team arrived at County Hall within minutes.

Morecambe North Councillor Jones was first elected to the county council in 1985 and had served since that election.

He had faced a political crossroads recently when he resigned the Conservative whip.

At the time he declined to comment on why he had fallen out with the party he had so loyally represented for decades.

But the extraordinary meeting of the full council provided a platform for Coun Jones to express his concerns and fears.

The meeting had been called by the opposition Labour group to debate a three part motion which included a call for Tory council leader Coun Geoff Driver’s resignation.