A SOCIALIST councillor from Blackpool has turned his back on the Labour Party - but hopes electors won't turn their backs on him.

Royston Jones has represented Greenlands ward since 1991, but now believes the party has become too much like the Conservatives for him to support them.

He will be standing at the local elections next year for the new Socialist Labour Party, fronted by Arthur Scargill.

Mr Jones, 50, said: "Ever since Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party, it has moved to the right.

"I became disillusioned with the party when Clause 4 was scrapped and it has made so much policy on the hoof.

"The party has also lowered its proposed minimum wage to way below the European accepted level of £6.

"Low wage working is something I have been campaigning against in Blackpool during my time as councillor."

Mr Jones, who works at Warburtons bakers, sits on the economic development and policy and resources committees at Blackpool Borough Council.

He hopes the electorate in Greenlands ward will still be willing to vote for him as someone who works hard for the community, even though he will no longer have an allegiance to the Labour Party.

He intends to speak to Arthur Scargill today (July 4) and have a Fylde branch of the Socialist Labour Party set up by Monday.

He said: "This will enable me to vote in a socialist way, to vote for what I believe in rather vote with the party."

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