Former Council leader, Councillor Colin Lambert, slams Labour colleagues as he announces he is to stand down

Councillor Colin Lambert

Councillor Colin Lambert, who was leader of the Council from 2010-2014, will not stand for re-election at the next local elections. He says he has taken the decision to stand down with a "deep heart and great regret" but explained that there is too much "skulduggery and deliberate misrepresentation" within local politics - shockingly he is referring to within his own local Labour party.

Councillor Lambert said: "I will continue my 40 years membership of the Labour Party, however I will neither represent nor campaign for the individuals who are representing Labour on Rochdale Council."

He explained that his anger has been brought about by the recent discovery that whilst he was leader a small number of local Labour Party members were actively working to "undermine" him.

He said: "It is clear that after I became leader of Rochdale Council a few within the Labour Party were determined to undermine any decisions we were taking for the good of all our residents.

"It is sad that when we look back it was not the political opposition which set out to oppose at every opportunity but those who were in the Labour Party."

Asked what evidence he has of this alleged treachery, Councillor Lambert said: "I now have a statement which names Labour councillors who were leaking confidential and commercially sensitive papers.

"Individuals smeared myself and others by feeding stories to the media which they knew to be untrue."

Referring to a recent edict to refrain from criticism, Councillor Lambert says he won't be silenced, he said: "For the Labour Group to be told to shut up or have the Labour whip taken away from them is a total denial of democracy." He added that he will "continue with action which will seek redress for the behaviour of others".