A HIGH flying councillor has stepped down as chairman of his local party and quit other leading posts after saying his Labour colleagues needed a "wake up" call.

Pendle Labour councillor Roger Abbiss blamed differences in approach between himself and local party members for the decision.

Matters came to a head during discussions over the selection of candidates for next May's by-elections at a party meeting earlier this month which Coun Abbiss, who represents Walverden ward in Nelson, was chairing.

"It became very clear there was no support for the chairman at the meeting so I thought it was ridiculous that I continue," explained Coun Abbiss.

He has stepped down as chairman of the local Labour Party and from other leading positions, such as secretary of Barrowford Labour Party and group spokesman on the council's estimates and resource management committees and its environmental working group. He will stay on as a Labour councillor and member of the local group and party.

"I think the Labour group is half-asleep in a dream world and they won't wake up," added Coun Abbiss.

"I've tried over the last year and a bit to wake them up but they refused to be woken up. I felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall.

"I'm not saying I've got all the answers but there should be a dialogue and there isn't any. You can't expect people to give a great deal of their time under the circumstances."

Coun Abbiss joined the council in May 1996 and quickly made a name for himself during debates in the council chamber.

He was on more council committees than any other Labour member apart from group leader Councillor Carol Hopkins.

Coun Hopkins and leading Labour councillor Colin Waite were unavailable to comment.

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