MAVERICK Burnley councillor Harry Brooks was expelled from last night's council meeting after clashing with its Labour leader, chief executive and Mayor.

His expulsion came after nearly three hours of often heated debate as he challenged leader Kath Reade's statements on the district auditor's report.

After repeated warnings from the Mayor Coun Peter Swainston and hearing his 'points of order' interuptions ruled 'out of order' by top officer Roger Ellis, councillors voted the Rosehill firebrand "be no longer heard."

Another interuption and another vote secured his exclusion.

Coun Brooks refused to leave, claiming he was being gagged and Labour members voted to adjourn proceedings until he had gone. The Independent member seemingly took the view that as the new exclusion power had been specifically designed for him, he might as well make use of it from time to time.

So he slowly gathered his papers, chatted to members and Press and then left, allowing the meeting to resume after ten minutes.

Coun Mrs Reade said she had been the gagged one - constantly interrupted by Coun Brooks as his Lib-Dem cohort Gordon Birtwistle 'nobbled' the Press by engaging reporters in conversation as she spoke.

However, she would have her say by means of a Press release, including the many good points for Burnley underlined by the auditor.

Coun Brooks was entirely unrepentant, arguing the auditor had in fact slammed Burnley's record in many respects.

And he added that he had lost whatever respect he had had for the mayor because of his decision to rule out any debate on a motion criticising the "scruffy appearance" of Peter Pike, the town's MP.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.