HYNDBURN Council's strife-torn Labour group has suffered another blow as its acting leader has stood down.

Milnshaw ward's Councillor Paul Cox has said he will not seek to become permanent boss of the party at its annual general meeting.

This means a new leader will need to be chosen before the full council meets to form an administration on Thursday night following May 5's inconclusive local election results.

Labour remain the largest party with 17 councillors to the Conservatives 14.

There are three Independents including current leader Cllr Miles Parkinson, who sensationally quit the Labour Party in March claiming it was "unpleasant, bullying and vindictive".

In addition, there is one vacant council seat in Great Harwood's highly-marginal Overton ward, following Michael Hindley's resignation after an altercation with a member of the public during a break in a council meeting, for which he received a police caution.

Former Labour MP for Hyndburn Graham Jones has also claimed Cllr Parkinson has "done a deal" with the Conservatives to remain as borough boss with their support, a seemingly baseless claim with Mr Jones providing no evidence to back up his claims.

He posted on Twitter: "Did the ex-Labour council leader sabotage his colleagues campaign, helping the Tories so he could remain in power retaining his allowances in a pact with the Tories?

"And is Peter Britcliffe the new Deputy Leader of the council in this ‘game of treachery'?"

Cllr Parkinson, who has remained council leader while sitting as an Independent, denied any deal with the Conservatives saying: "It will be up to the annual meeting on Thursday to decide who is leader of the council.

"I will work with either side if they decide to support me as leader or will happily serve as Altham councillor on the back benches."

Lancashire Telegraph: Cllr Miles Parkinson, Hyndburn Council leaderCllr Miles Parkinson, Hyndburn Council leader

Tory deputy leader Cllr Britcliffe said: "I deny Mr Jones's claims. In my view Labour are not fit to run the council at the moment."

Cllr Cox said: “I’m extremely proud of how we campaigned and delivered Labour councillors for our residents.

"However I have taken the decision not to apply for any leadership roles at the next Labour group and council annual meeting.

"I believe in integrity and honesty in all that I do.

"I’m proud of what I’ve done in my eight years as deputy Labour leader and also as a cabinet member for more than nine years in environmental services. However all things must come to an end.

"I will remain a Labour councillor and support who ever is elected as leader of the group.”

Clayton-le-Moors ward's Cllr Melissa Fisher, who stood unsuccessfully against Cllr Parkinson for the Labour group leadership a year ago, is likely to be one of the candidates to take over from Cllr Cox.