Former leader Peter Britcliffe thrown out of Hyndburn Council meeting

The ex-leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe was thrown out of the first full council meeting of the civic year.

The Tory leader, who lost the council leadership during the elections in May, was told to leave by Mayor Coun Colette McCormack.

The drama unfolded on Thursday, June 30 as Coun Clare Pritchard was speaking about a new Government green energy scheme which MP Graham Jones was involved in creating.

The MP has been given the opportunity to speak at full council meetings by the recently elected Labour council.

Coun Prtichard said Coun Britcliffe regularly complained about the lack of communication between himself and Hyndburn's previous MP Greg Pope. She said Coun Britcliffe should be pleased that Mr Jones was willing to sit it on council meetings and make himself available to councillors.

Coun Pritchard said: "If you were the one sitting where Graham Jones is we would be welcoming you. Being open and transparent in this manner is important to this council."

When Coun Brticliffe tried to defend himself, he was asked to let Coun Pritchard finish her speech by Coun McCormack. When he tried again, Coun McCormack dismissed him from the meeting.

She said: "I will not tolerate repeated interruptions in this chamber."

At the meeting's conclusion Coun McCormack said: "I think the residents of the borough would be proud to see how their councillors conducted themselves during the meeting with the exception of one member."

It was the first time Coun Britcliffe has been kicked out of a full council meeting.

Following the meeting Coun Britcliffe was unapologetic about the interruptions.

He said: "Greg Pope and I worked quite well together. We together for the borough and had regular communication. I objected when they stood up and made suggestions about myself like that.

"It is a shame that things were handled in this way but I needed to make my point."

Observer reporter Kate Watkins (watty08) sent live updates from the meeting to the our blog below. Click on the grey box to read them, or click here if reading on a mobile device.