Hyndburn Council boss quits 'bullying and vindictive' Labour Party

Councillor Miles Parkinson said he would complete his current terms as Leader of Hyndburn borough and councillor for Altham ward as an independent.

His resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile Hyndburn councillors quitting the party.

Cllr Parkinson told a full council meeting Hyndburn Labour party had become "unpleasant, bullying and vindictive".

The 55-year-old who had been a Labour member for 28 years told Thursday night’s meeting at Accrington Town Hall: “After 11 years serving as both leader of the Labour group and the council, I have taken the decision to tender my resignation from the Labour Party following this evening’s meeting.

“In effect what this means is that following this meeting I will register myself as an Independent councillor.

Cllr Parkinson quit during an explosive meeting at Accrington Town Hall

“I have to say that this has not been an easy decision.

“I have been a long-standing member of the Labour Party - as well as a proud trade unionist - but I feel that the Hyndburn Labour Party is being misdirected by certain individuals who are operating behind the scenes and it is no longer a party which I feel comfortable being a member of.”

Conservative deputy leader Cllr Peter Britcliffe said: “External forces, which I might call ‘G Forces’, have led us to the position we are in tonight."

In the margins of the meeting Labour councillors were blaming former Hyndburn Labour MP Graham Jones - who lost his seat in 2019 - as the prime mover among the "certain individuals" mentioned by Cllr Parkinson but were not prepared to put this on the record.

During the proceedings a councillor on the Labour and Independent benches stage whispered "Graham Jones".

Cllr Parkinson pictured with former MP Graham Jones

After the meeting, Overton ward’s Independent Cllr Pat McGinley, who had demanded to know "who is behind all this?", said: “I understand from members of the Labour and Tory groups that the individual Miles Parkinson was referring to is ex-MP Graham Jones.”

Cllr Parkinson said he would remain as the local authority’s leader until May’s annual meeting of the council and as an Independent councillor until his term of office finishes in 2024.

He concluded his resignation speech by saying: “There is an old saying that all political careers end in tears.

“Whilst that is often true, in my case I’m going to end my time with the Labour Party with a smile.

"To whoever succeeds me as Labour leader, I hope you can find the courage to lead and not to be manipulated from behind the scenes.

“I hope too you can find some way of tackling the unacceptable behaviour in the party and making it a less unpleasant, bullying and vindictive organisation than it has become thanks to those who have been intent on tearing us apart.”

Graham Jones lost his seat in the 2019 General Election as Labour's Red Wall crumbled

As he finished his speech Labour councillor Eamonn Higgins, who did not attend the meeting officially, shouted from the public gallery "Shame the Judases" before leaving.

Several sitting Labour councillors have decided not to stand in May 5’s local elections including Cllr Diane Fielding, Netherton’s Cllr Bernadette Parkinson (wife of the borough leader Miles), Huncoat’s Dave Parkins, and Overton’s Jenny Molineux who has also quit the Labour Party branding it’s Hyndburn culture "toxic".

Her husband Gareth quit Labour last year and is standing for the Conservatives in Overton ward while former Labour candidate Shahid Mahmood is doing the same in Milnshaw ward.

In May Cllr Miles Parkinson survived a challenge to his leadership of Hyndburn Council’s Labour group from Clayton-le-Moors ward’s Cllr Melissa Fisher.

Conservative group leader Cllr Marlene Haworth said: “I am so sad. I find this heartbreaking. There have definitely been dark forces at work within the Labour group.”

Mr Jones, who lost his seat to Tory Sarah Britcliffe in the 2019 General Election, has been approached for comment.