THE leader of the For Darwen party has slammed one of his allies who has quit the party.

Trevor Maxfield has thrown the balance of power in the borough into question after resigning from the ruling coalition alongside For Darwen colleague Anthony Meleady.

Labour is now poised to regain control at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday.

As a result of his move, the Earcroft councillor has also been removed as leader of Darwen Town Council.

For Darwen leader Tony Melia claimed his former colleague had ‘not thought things through’.

He said: “I don’t think he’s considered the consequences it could have on Darwen as a town.

“The Labour Party core support is in Blackburn, so a lot of funding is biased towards Blackburn, and this helps them grow stronger.”

But Coun Maxfield, whose vote will be crucial to decide where power ends up after Tuesday’s meeting, said: “I don’t agree with that.

We have got hard-working councillors of all parties in Darwen.”

The defection leaves For Darwen on just three councillors.

Coun Melia, who co-founded the For Darwen Party in 2007, added: “We all have knock-backs, but you just get on with it. That’s what politics is about.”