CITY OF PRESTON LABOUR PARTY

Chaos and confusion surrounded Preston Liberal Democrats after one of their local councillors unexpectedly announced his resignation this week after just 19 days in post. Liam Pennington, who was elected in Riversway by just 4 votes, cited personal reasons for stepping down.  Highlighting the collapse of discipline within the Liberal Democrat group, their leader Danny Gallagher said that he knew nothing about the resignation before it occured. 

Despite being in post for only 19 days, Liam Pennington still managed in that time to vote with his Lib Dem colleagues in support of a Tory administration at Preston City Council.  The Liberal Democrats are expected to continue to support the Tory administration, as they have done for the past 3 years.

There is anger amongst Local Labour Councillors as the by-election will cost Preston City Council (and therefore the taxpayer) thousands of pounds to hold.  Demands were being made for the Liberal Democrats to apologise, for what has been a catastrophic failure of their candidate selection process and a betrayal of trust of the voters of Riversway ward.

No date has been set for the by-election as of yet. Preston Labour Party is already in the process of selecting a candidate.