But Mr Howarth backs the stadium plan, saying the prospect of 700 jobs, £10m on road and parking improvements and a transformed town centre could not be rejected.
The mass buy-out of Kirkby town centre, underwritten by Tesco, will only go ahead if the controversial £400m plans for a supermarket and stadium south of the town centre are approved by communities secretary John Denham.
Yesterday, Ms Cooper said: “My constituents view, with great suspicion, the fact Tesco has begun to buy up property in the centre of Kirkby, ahead of the determination of a recent planning appeal.
“For my constituents, this disastrous scheme – if it were to go ahead – would be seen as purely legalised bribery.”
But Mr Howarth said: “My honourable friend ought to spend more time worrying about the development of her own town centre, rather than – as she seems to be doing – stopping £400m going into Kirkby.”
Mr Denham said, to laughter: “You will understand why this was a matter on which I did not wish to comment.”
