'˜I'm fed up of people crying on TV for donkeys and disasters abroad - we need help for Leeds flood victims NOW'

Maureen Ingham, who represents the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward on Leeds City Council, urged Ministers to divert foreign aid to help flood-hit families and firms.

“I am sick and tired of hearing from this Government that there is no money,” the straight-talking Labour councillor said.

“And where were the appeals on TV from our celebrities saying ‘our people are no longer insured, they cannot cope’?

“I’m sick of seeing people standing there on TV and asking for money with tears for donkeys, and for people in other countries.”

Coun Ingham was speaking at a meeting of a council inquiry panel, which was examining the impact of and response to the Boxing Day floods on Leeds and Yorkshire.

Between 500 and 600 Leeds businesses in total are thought to have suffered flood damage, with around 1,700 homes also believed to have been affected.

Early estimates have suggested the total clean-up costs and loss to the economy could be in the billions.

“It just seems to go over these Ministers’ heads, because it’s not happening to them,” Coun Ingham added.

“They are very comfortable, they have other houses they can go to if they get flooded. And they have probably got loads of insurance.

“It’s about time that somebody made it clear to our Government that what they are doing is wrong, by giving that money overseas, because [they don’t] seem to have any control over it.

“These floods have wiped people’s lives out, their houses and businesses.

“I think it’s actually beyond tragedy.”