Hyndburn Council boss accused of sending 'Islamophobic' email

Cllr Miles Parkinson, who sensationally quit the party in March claiming it was "unpleasant, bullying and vindictive" but remains Hyndburn Council leader as an Independent, does not deny sending the email in February 2014.

It describes four Muslim Labour colleagues - Cllrs Munsif Dad, Noordad Aziz, Abdul Khan and Mohammed Ayub - as "bigoted" and "dangerous".

A Hyndburn Labour Party spokesperson called for Cllr Parkinson to resign as leader of the borough, saying: "There is no room for racism and Islamophobia in society."

Cllr Parkinson declined to apologise for the contents of the email, and said: "I don't regret sending it."

Cllr Munsif Dad was one of four people picked out by Cllr Parkinson in his email

Cllr Parkinson's email, part of internal discussions about the selection of local election candidates, reads:

"We have two groups.

"The sour grapes and non team players who we bend over backwards but behave how they see fit, Clare, Tim etc.

"And then the dangerous group Munsif, Noordad, Abdul, Ayub who want raw power to get things solely for their community and bigoted religious dangerous views.

"Best wishes Miles."

The email has emerged just days before Hyndburn Council annual meeting at which the Altham councillor is hopeful of defeating a Labour challenge to his leadership, with the support of the Conservatives and to other Independent councillors - former Labour councillor Eamonn Higgins and ex-Tory Pat McGinley.

The authority is currently hung after the local elections left it with 17 Labour councillors to the Conservatives 14, three Independents and one vacancy in the highly marginal Overton ward in Great Harwood.

Cllr Aziz was one of four described as having "bigoted views"

In the run up to the May 5 poll Hyndburn Labour Party was hit by a string of resignations.

A spokesperson for Hyndburn Labour said: “The local party is deeply shocked at the hatred of one community in this email.

"There is no room for racism and Islamophobia in society. Anyone holding such views has no place in politics.

"The council should act and the leader of the council should resign immediately.”

The email was sent while Cllr Parkinson was a Labour member.

Asked if he wished to apologise for the contents of the email sent from his personal account, Cllr Parkinson refused.

He said: "Whatever emails have been circulated they were appropriate at that time.

"No one brought up any issues about them at that time.

"I don't regret sending it.

"It is no different than many other groups where opinions were being sent at that time.

"The email is not at all racist or Islamophobic."

Cllr Ayub and Cllr Khan declined to comment on the email, Cllr Dad and Cllr Aziz have been approached for comment.