A MOTION of no confidence has been tabled in the Labour and Liberal Democrat administration which runs Pendle Council by opposition Conservatives.

But Labour chiefs have accused the Tories of playing “petty politics” and not fighting for the borough’s best interests on a wider basis.

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The Conservative move comes just days after the party regained the Reedley seat from Labour, with veteran councillor Pauline McCormick triumphing in a by-election.

This saw the party strengthen its position as the single largest grouping in Pendle still further, on 22 seats. Labour now have 16 representatives, the Lib Dems 10 and Cllr Brian Norton Parker is the sole British National Party member of the council.

Senior Conservatives claim they have lobbied for a joint ruling executive, split between the parties, and insisted that they are the only party representing all corners of the borough.

Cllr Joe Cooney, leader of the Conservatives, said: “Only the Conservatives are represented in every area of our borough and so we are well placed to represent the views of the whole borough.

“This is a move to ensure that the people who voted Conservative have their views heard. We’re not asking for control of the council just for our seats at the table, which we’ve been excluded from.

“That isn’t democracy, and there’s room for all of us to have an input, particularly the largest group on the council. To continue to exclude us would be an insult to the democratic process and to those people who voted for us.”

But Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, council leader, said: “This comes as no surprise. The Conservatives have refused to grasp the nettle and fight for Pendle so they have to resort to these petty politics.

“At the end of the day I was elected as council leader and I hope that my colleagues will send a clear message to the Conservatives that their type of politics is not welcome in Pendle.”

In the past 10 years there have been Lib Dem-led and a Conservative and Lib Dem alliance in control of the council. The motion will be presented to a full council meeting on Thursday. If successful, nominations for a new leader would be sought.

Under local government reorganisation proposals the Pendle constituency could be split between a new Clitheroe and Colne, and wider Burnley seats.

Councillors were united in condemning the Boundary Commission plans and have suggested adding wards from Ribble Valley or Burnley to forge a redefined Pendle constituency.