A LABOUR councillor stood up at the meeting of the full council in Pendle and said he believed members were 'playing right into the hands of right wing parties' by squabbling over party politics.

Coun David Whalley made the claim after council leader Coun Alan Davies, moved a motion encouraging community cohesion in Pendle.

The motion stated that 'the only successful future for Pendle will be through the active involvement and co-operation of everyone in the borough in all communities both geographical and ethnic'.

It also welcomed the rejection by the voters of those candidates at this year's elections 'who sought to stir up and profit by divisions within the local community'.

But Coun Whalley said that rows which broke out between the various parties earlier in the meeting, relating to the political composition of the executive and the election of the borough's mayor, went against the motion.

He said: "I feel what has been going on in this chamber is playing right into the hands of extremist right wing parties this motion is talking about.

"When I go out canvassing, people say they can't abide local councillors falling out with each other over party politics.

"We've got 12 months to get this right.

"This year there were nearly 2,000 votes for these parties, who I will not name, and we have got a neighbouring borough which has been named the capital for this party in the country."

The BNP failed to win any seats on Pendle Council despite standing in four different wards.

The motion for work towards community cohesion in the borough was overwhelmingly supported.