SENIOR Tory bosses have revealed that a long serving Blackburn councillor's membership of the party is "under review."

Coun Edna Arnold, who represents the Livesey and Pleasington ward, was not described as a Conservative party candidate in May when she stood in Livesey Parish Council elections.

Six other candidates in the same election declared themselves as Conservative party candidates.

It is not clear whether Coun Arnold's omission to do so was an oversight but James Fuke, Conservative Area Campaign Director for Lancashire and Cumbria, said: "The party constitution says that anybody who stands against a Conservative candidate is then expelled from the party.

"She has been interviewed by the association executive. The case will be looked at by the membership committee of the national party. She has the right of appeal."

A senior Tory party spokesman at Conservative Central Office in London said: "We can confirm that Mrs Edna Arnold's membership is at present under review and a statement will be available once this internal matter has been resolved."

Coun Arnold's legal representatives said they did not wish to comment on the situation.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.