Local elections - Burnley

MILLENNIUM Mayor-to-be Eddie Fisk is celebrating success after sweeping to victory as an independent Burnley's Lowerhouse ward.

In one of the most bizarre election contests in the town's history, Coun Fisk, a lifelong Labour supporter until crossing the council chamber after the controversial housing allocations inquiry, beat his nephew and "phantom'' official Labour candidate Sam Holgate.

Mr Holgate made it clear he had pulled out of the campaign because of ill health and asked Lowerhouse residents not to vote for him.

Labour workers continued to canvass for him even though he officially resigned from the party. Mr Holgate was at the count and one of the first to congratulate his uncle. The Labour party is now to hold an inquiry into its selection procedure.

Jubilant Coun Fisk, who is hoping to become Mayor in Millennium year, said: "I am sorry I am still not with the Labour Party.

"I have regrets about the whole business but the result shows I have the backing of the people of Lowerhouse. I have always believed you should do the best for the people who vote for you and I will be doing my best for the people of Lowerhouse for the next four years.'' A second independent success was gained by former Labour Party officer Bob Chadwick who beat sitting Labour candidate Abdul Aziz in Bank Hall.

A former Labour vice-chairman, membership secretary, campaign co-ordinator and "general dogsbody'', Mr Chadwick said: "The Labour Party now is not the Labour Party I joined. They are control freaks and I am not one to be controlled.

"I stood against them partly because of the way in which Eddie Fisk was dealt with. Labour have lost touch with the membership and with the people of the town.''

The Liberal Democrats were celebrating a win in Rosehill where home carer Bernard Hill took the seat from Labour while the Conservatives doubled their seats on the council to two with hospital worker Ida Fowler topping the poll in Whittlefield.

She now joins the current Mayor, Coun Mrs Enid Tate, on the council and promised this was the beginning of the turning of the tide for the Tories.

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