CONTROVERSIAL councillor Michael Moulding has decided NOT to resign from Preston Borough Council.

Last Friday Coun Moulding sensationally decided to rejoin the Liberal Democrats -the party he defected from last year - to join the Labour Party after declaring himself a true socialist.

He quit the Labour Party after this month's local election, taking with him Labour's slender one-seat majority.

The Moor Park councillor was re-admitted to the Lib Dems on Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday) told the Citizen: "I am not resigning."

He added: "I have spoken to people in my ward and they don't want me to resign. They have asked why I have done what I have, and all I can say to them is sorry.

"It was a foolish mistake to join the Labour Party in the first place and I realise that now.

"All I want to do is get on with serving my ward. I am not a party politician, I am a ward councillor."

He added: "If the people in my ward are happy for me to serve, then I see no point to forcing a re-election. People voted me in as a Liberal Democrat, and that is what I am now."

But reaction in his ward was mixed.

One shopkeeper said people were angry and added: "We voted him in as a Liberal Democrat and then he changed again. At least he is a Liberal again, but it is wrong he should be allowed to defect in the first place.

"These town hall shenanigans have had people round here up in arms." Clare Anderton, of St Thomas' Road, added: "He obviously wants to what is best for the area and as long as he does then there shouldn't be a problem. Party politics shouldn't get in the way."

Council leader Peter Rankin said: "It is obvious Michael is a very disruptive individual who isn't sure where he belongs." Liberal Democrat leader Bill Chadwick described Coun Moulding's decision as courageous.

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