COUNCILLOR Arif Waghat's refusal to resign with regards to his recent conviction for council tax fraud, does him no credit at all.

However, he tells us that a wide consultation with his constituents in the Shear Brow ward has told him he must remain as a councillor to represent them.

Perhaps this tells us something about the people who he claims still support him.

Conservative councillor and present leader of the council Colin Rigby also appears to support him, and this in turn should also tell us something about the man.

Labour also has its detractors, one of whom, to all intents and purposes, still represents his constituents also.

All in all it is indeed a sorry business with regard to all local party politics and councillors and it does make the comments by councillors Kate Hollern and David Harling somewhat contradictory.

Finally, it would appear that all their backyards could indeed benefit from a good clean sweep.

MR P NEWTON, Redlam, Blackburn.