Labour councillors warned not to criticise Simon Danczuk

Councillor Richard Farnell has warned Labour councillors not to criticise Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk

Councillors were said to be "queuing up" to criticise Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk for using the Tory press to "undermine" the national Labour leadership at the latest Labour Group meeting on Monday night.

However, it is understood that the leader of Labour on Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, warned Labour councillors not to criticise Mr Danczuk on social media.

Mr Danczuk has authored a series of articles in the Conservative supporting Mail on Sunday that are critical of the Labour Party leadership which has led to "serious concern" amongst some local councillors about the "damage he is doing to the party".

One councillor who says he "won't be silenced" is the former leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Colin Lambert, who told Rochdale Online that he will not be standing again at next May's local elections, he explained: "I will not be bullied or silenced and therefore I will not stand again in the borough elections next May."

UPDATE

Councillor Farnell has denied he was attempting to stifle criticism of Mr Danczuk, he said he never mentioned Mr Danczuk by name and wasn't referring to any individual when "asking" councillors not to criticise "party colleagues" on social media.