A FORMER deputy leader of the Preston Council has quit the Labour Party in an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Coun Tony Reid was amongst eight party members in the town who quit 'in disgust' at the direction the New Labour Government is taking.

The letter states a 'long catalogue of failures' by the Government including the handling of the Formula 1 affair, the stance on the Liverpool dock dispute and the wasted millions on the Millennium dome project.

Among the other rebels to resign are former vice-chairman of Preston's constituency Ruth Wigmore and ex-councillor Mark Buckley.

Coun Reid will be stepping down at the next local election and in the meantime will stand as an independent Labour councillor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.