Former Rochdale council leader Richard Farnell is understood to have quit the Labour Party

A screenshot from the Rochdale Council web site showing the party Councillor Richard Farnell is linked to as 'not specified'

Former Rochdale council leader Richard Farnell is understood to have quit the Labour Party.

The councillor for Balderstone and Kirkholt is now showing on Rochdale Borough Council’s website as not being aligned to any party.

Councillor Farnell was previously suspended by the Labour Party in April 2018 after he was found to have lied under oath to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse.

Councillor Farnell always maintained he told the truth to the Inquiry, and a lengthy investigation by the Metropolitan Police found there was “insufficient evidence” to prosecute him for perjury.

Councillor Farnell, current council leader Allen Brett and Labour Party spokesman Councillor John Blundell have all been contacted for comment.

The makeup of Rochdale Borough Council now stands as:

44 Labour, 9 Conservative, 3 Liberal Democrat, 2 Independent, 1 Non-Aligned and 1 The Brexit Party.