Labour denies plan to grill Tameside councillors in 'fit and proper' character test

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Labour has rubbished claims that it plans to grill its Tameside councillors to check if they are up to the job. Conservative Coun Liam Billington claimed national Labour officials have drawn up a list of its own representatives in Tameside, with plans to test if they are "fit and proper" to represent the party.

Labour recently stepped in with a "campaign improvement board" to restore order in the aftermath of a damning assessment of Tameside children's services last month. READ MORE: 'The neck problem that turned out to be something beyond my worst nightmares' The council was told it was failing those most vulnerable - with social workers overstretched, children living in 'neglect', and some youngsters in care being put in 'unsuitable' accommodation.

The scathing assessment led to the resignations of the leader and chief executive. But during a meeting to confirm the appointment of new Tameside council leader Eleanor Wills, Coun Billington suggested a number of Labour members may be removed from their roles in the coming years. "Come the next local elections you are going to have problems, and I don't think actually many of you are going to be here," he claimed. "From what I've been told, the NEC will start interviewing you all and will judge if you are fit and proper to be a councillor for the Labour Party. "I've heard there's quite a number on that list, half of you might not be in the chamber in the next four years." Labour told the Manchester Evening News that the comments were a "desperate" ploy by Tameside Conservatives to score political points.

A spokesperson added: "Tameside Tories are resorting to desperate stuff. There are no plans for such interviews. "Tameside Labour has a new leader and is fully focused