GREEN Party bosses have backed Chris Maile following calls by the Labour Party to sack him!

They paid tribute to his work - particularly on the Leigh Guided Busway and Xanadu project - saying he was one of their most effective campaigners.

The defence of Chris Maile came after Wigan Labour Party called on the Greens to publicly disown Mr Maile and sack him.

They say his opposition to the busway, remarks over a Compulsory Purchase Order in Wigan, and remarks reported to the Commission for Racial Equality over a new Indian food factory in Leigh all fly in the face of Green Party policy.

And Wigan's Labour Party campaign co-ordinator, Cllr Neil Turner, said the activist was more interested in Chris Maile than the Green Party.

But Spencer Fitz-Gibbon for the Greens said the call was "laughable".

"Chris Maile is one of our most effective campaigners in support of local communities and in defence of their environment and their civic rights. Most towns in the North West would love to have a Green activist as hard-working and committed as Chris."

And Prof. John Whitelegg, a transport consultant, added: "In opposing half-baked schemes like the Leigh Guided Busway and the truly bizarre Xanadu project, Chris Maile is simply arguing for public transport that doesn't destroy the countryside, and for economic development which brings jobs without associated pollution, traffic blight and negative impacts on local communities."

Lance Crookes, another of the North West party's strong Euro-election team, added:

"For someone who left school at 14 to give top barristers a run for their money in the higher courts indicates exceptional talent. Wherever Chris has worked, local communities have benefited from his self-taught legal skills and his absolute devotion to principle."

Commenting on the sacking call, Mr Maile, prospective Hope Carr Ward candidate, said: "This is the greatest honour that Labour could bestow on me. At last I am being recognised for the work I am carrying out on behalf of the local community.

"This attempt to sack me has clearly shown that Labour are afraid of serious opposition. This year's elections look like they will be very bloody with Labour firing their big guns very early."

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