A ROW has broken out over how county councillors are selected for a prestigious role.

Members of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups at Lancashire County Council claim the ruling Labour group have turned the role of chairman into a political one by always selecting their own councillors.

A different councillor is given the title of chairman every year and it serves a similar purpose as the Mayor of a borough council.

Many local borough councils rotate the role between the main political parties each year so councillors from all political parties can have a chance to take over the chains of office.

County councillors now claim the same policy should be re-introduced at county hall, which has had Labour chairmen since 1989.

This year's chairman is Labour county councillor Dorothy Westell, who serves Oswaldtwistle.

County council leader Hazel Harding said after the meeting that, as the people of Lancashire had given the Labour group the mandate to run the authority, she felt it was appropriate for the chairman to come from the Labour group.

Pendle County Coun David Whipp said: "The Labour group appear to think might is right in all occasions.

"That is not the case and certainly isn't when appointing a new chairman of the county council.

"It is supposed to be a non-political role and something which reflects the regard within which you are held by the county councillors. "That can't happen if all we ever have are Labour chairmen. Between 1985 and 1989, the parties took it in turn to choose a chairman and that should be as it is now."

At the meeting to install Coun Westell as chairman, Lib Dem and Conservative councillors joined forces to oppose the selection of Morecambe Labour councillor Derrick Stanley as her deputy. He will become the chairman next year.

The opposition move to appoint Conservative Lytham councillor Brian Whittle into the post was lost when put to the vote.

Conservative leader Robert Hodge said: "This role is non political and should be appointed as such. It would be much more appropriate to pick from each party rather than always from Labour."