A SHAMED former Burnley BNP councillor who was involved in a fight at a party festival has been banned from standing as a councillor for three years.

But today Luke Smith said he was "not bothered" about the ruling and said politics was "boring".

The ban was handed down yesterday, when Mr Smith was disqualified from being or becoming a member of any local authority at the Adjudication Panel for England hearing .

The tribunal met at the Clarion Hotel, in Clitheroe, and heard how the former Lanehead ward councillor, who was not present, was involved in a fight at the party's Red White and Blue festival on August 16 last year.

The injured person needed hospital treatment.

But 22-year-old Mr Smith, who lives in Brunshaw Road, today said he did not care about the verdict.

He said: "I decided to get involved in politics because of how the town was and where it was heading.

"But I'm not bothered about the decision, I have no interest in politics. It bored me so that's why I decided to stand down. I don't care at all."

Mr Smith, who is a gas engineer, was expelled from the party after the incident and resigned as a councillor last September.

The allegation which Mr Smith admitted to, was referred to the Standards Board for England. Steven Kingston, an ethical standards officer for the board, investigated the claims and referred the case to the Adjudication Panel for England.

The independent judicial tribunal, which investigates matters concerning local authority members, found Mr Smith guilty of failing to comply with the borough council's code of conduct.

The ban under the Local Government Act 2000 starts immediately.

The BNP today distanced themselves from Mr Smith. Group leader on Burnley Council Len Starr said: "The party distanced themselves some time ago from Luke Smith so what he does is his own business.

"I don't understand why the investigation went ahead because once he stood down, I thought that would be the end of the matter.

"It is no real surprise, but it is of no consequence as he has nothing to do with us."

Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat leader, welcomed the ruling, saying: "We feel the panel have done the right thing as we can't afford to have people in the public eye who act in this way.

"I feel that if people knew what he was like before they elected him, then they wouldn't have voted for him in the first place."