A BUSINESSMAN has called for the Labour Party to pay the cost a by-election where their winning candidate declared himself disqualified on polling day.

Sabir Esa said council taxpayers should not foot the £8,000 bill for the ‘political shambles’ that followed Adam Holden winning the Highercroft ward.

Mr Holden had disqualified himself on polling day when realised he was employed by a firm indirectly owned by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Mr Esa, 53, came to the Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum to demand an explanation for the error in vetting the candidate’s eligibility and ask for Labour to pay for the poll.

Leader Cllr Mohammed Khan said there had been a ‘genuine mistake’ but national rules prevented political parties paying for elections which were solely a local government responsibility.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn Labour party chairman, said he would consider making a donation to the mayor’s charity of at least the cost of the new re-arranged by-election on national polling day June 8.

This would be a few hundred pounds because it coincides with the UK General Election.

Mr Esa, an official of Blackburn Conservative Association, said: “This is not good enough.

“The Labour Party is short-changing council tax payers and they should pay the full £8,000 into council funds.

“They could and should have found out their candidate was ineligible to stand before polling day.”

Cllr John Slater, leader of the council Tory group said: “This was shambles caused by Labour who must improve their selection vetting procedures.”