Labour group defend Councillor Murphy

Labour Group Leader, Councillor Allen Brett

Rochdale Labour Party has rallied behind their under-fire Councillor, David Murphy, and accused the Liberal Democrats of mounting a totally hypocritical attack on the East Middleton Ward Councillor.

The Labour Group Leader, Allen Brett, said Councillor Murphy was currently in Spain because of a family illness and would be returning to continue his duties shortly. He added that other Labour councillors were currently sharing Councillor Murphy’s workload and dismissed calls by the Liberal Democrats for his resignation.

He said: “Exaggerated claims that Councillor Murphy has moved to Spain are not true and the Group is offering him our support while he deals with an urgent family matter. This is only right when you consider that he has a 27-year record of service to our community.

“However, the hypocrisy of the Lib Dems on this matter must be challenged, as a number of their councillors are known to spend lengthy periods away. Councillor Pauline Maguire, who is a member of the cabinet for older people, has been missing for the last week and is planning to be off for another four weeks.

“Councillor Mark Birkett has also regularly gone missing and it has emerged that he spends considerable time learning to fly as an airline pilot in the U.S.”

He added that even those Lib Dem councillors who stay in the Borough sometimes never speak or take part in Council business and that this is what "ultimately gives politics a bad name".

Heywood and Middleton Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Councillor Wera Hobhouse says the Labour Party is trying to covering up David Murphy's move overseas, she comments: "Once again the Labour Party have conned the residents of Middleton, their role in covering up David Murphy’s move to Spain is despicable and they should hang their head in shame.  Middleton residents need their elected Councillors to be in Middleton not in Spain. 
  
“For too long Labour have taken Middleton for granted and its time for change, There is no option but resignation by Councillor David Murphy, Conning the residents of Middleton by staying in Spain and claiming a £10,000 allowance and not representing their views is the worse thing to do, sadly he brings the good name of public service into question.

Middleton Liberal Democrats will not give up until this deliberate cover up is exposed and Councillor Murphy resigns.”