A BLACKBURN politician has been labelled a rogue councillor' by his own party for speaking out over plans to replace a shopping centre's distinctive clock tower.

Coun Paul McGurty spoke out after the Evening Telegraph revealed how council planning chiefs ordered a clause be worked into plans to redevelop the Mall shopping centre.

Along with a number of financial commit-ments, the Mall operators must also now come up with a new design for the clock tower, which is set to be demolished as part of the revamp of the shopping centre.

Coun McGurty told the Evening Telegraph that the clause was "a game of brinkmanship between the council and the Mall".

But at a council planning committee meeting colleagues were quick to distance themselves from his comments.

Coun Fred Slater, said: "This isn't the view of the Conservative group, this is a personal view of a rogue councillor who wants to make his name."

But Coun McGurty slammed the reaction, from other members of his own party.

He said: "I would prefer not to get into a public dispute with one of my colleagues but If Coun Slater did indeed used the words rogue councillor' then it is regrettable and saddening."