A CONTROVERSIAL long-serving Labour councillor and former Blackburn mayor is fighting for his political life after what he describes as a "tawdry and patronising" attack on him by influential colleagues.

Coun Mike Madigan has hit back at a Labour Party Local Government Committee report which advises the party not to select him to stand for re-election to his Shadsworth seat in May.

Coun Madigan has written a letter to Labour town hall colleagues blasting the committee - and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph understands he is likely to receive support in challenging its report.

In the letter, Coun Madigan cites criticisms of him in the report including:

His work with the Ethnic Minorities Development Association representing a "serious conflict of interest" with his council work, even though he alleges Blackburn with Darwen chief executive Phil Watson has advised him this is not the case.

His alleged "confrontational" approach to issues in his Shadsworth ward which have included the closure of a home for the elderly and a library.

His alleged need for extra training in negotiation skills, diplomacy, problem solving and personnel management.

He writes: "In spite of the fact I have 37 years of membership of the Old Labour Party and 24 years' membership of this group, in their opinion, I am in need of further training before I can be considered fit to continue as a member. "If over the years of party membership it was deemed necessary to keep me away from the doorsteps because I was in need of training in negotiation skills and diplomacy then I wouldn't have bothered."

Coun Madigan has been a controversial figure in the Labour Party.

In 1986, when he was mayor, he refused to attend a military tattoo telling the army he would not take the traditional salute.

In 1988 he reported his own council to the local government ombudsman after being gazumped in a land deal.

Council leader Malcolm Doherty said his role prevented him from being involved in the LGC selection process and therefore he could not comment on the situation.

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