A DESELECTED Labour councillor is calling for dramatic improvements to the 'poisonous' relationship between party councillors and Warrington North MP Helen Jones.

Cllr Paul Bretherton, who will be fighting to remain as a Rixton and Woolston councillor as an independent following his Labour resignation last night, Tuesday, has issued a 'wake-up' call to Labour chiefs in a letter to leader Cllr Terry O'Neill.

But despite the severe criticism Cllr Bretherton hopes the points raised provide the catalyst for change.

In the letter he said: "It is with a real sense of bewilderment that I and others, who have worked so hard in their respective communities, were sidelined so suddenly and without little justification as to why.

"For the most part I blame this on the long-running and festering arguments which have blighted the Labour Party in the town.

"From what I have witnessed at extremely close quarters this past decade is the damaging relationship between the Labour group of councillors and the Warrington North MP.

"This can be described at best as dysfunctional, and at worst, poisonous. Importantly, I would like to make it clear that I lay absolutely no blame at your door, or the Labour group of councillors for this infuriating sideshow.

"Over time I may have naively expected this relationship to improve. Instead, I have seen it only decline, ominously, further and deeper into the abyss.

"The decision to select a number of election candidates on the basis that they are in the paid employment of the Warrington North MP, such as Morgan Tarr in Orford and Andrew Hill in Rixton and Woolston, would seem to reinforce the view the divisions that currently exist are now only set to degenerate further."

Cllr Bretherton also highlighted the 'deafening silence' from Labour chiefs amid the ongoing 'in-fighting'.

"Surely now is the time for senior local Warrington Labour Party figures to re-examine their own attitudes and behaviour towards each other," he added.

Mrs Jones has been left 'surprised' by the comments made by Cllr Bretherton.

A spokesman for the MP said: "He is clearly unhappy with the results of the selection process. Sadly, this seems to have clouded his judgement and looks to be the motivation for this outburst.

"He knows that candidates are selected by Labour Party members in each ward and not by any other criteria.

"In the case of Rixton and Woolston, six applications were received and three candidates were selected. This decision was made solely by members of the Labour Party in Rixton and Woolston.

"Helen Jones will be supporting Labour's campaign in the local elections and will work with Labour councillors, as she has always done, to fight against damaging Tory cuts."

A Labour spokesman said the party is 'focused' on the election campaign.

Cllr Bretherton is also making 'no apologies' for giving residents 'priority' over full council meetings.

The Labour councillor and Cllr Wendy Johnson (LD – Grappenhall and Thelwall) ranked bottom in the attendance standings at Town Hall meetings since June 2014, with 64 per cent.

But Cllr Bretherton said 'too often' the debates in the chamber can prove to be a 'pointless exercise'.

He added: "Getting the balance right between the council, work and family life is important and can be challenging but it is manageable.

"Equally important is the need to balance the needs of attending Town Hall meetings against the needs and requests from residents.

"On some occasions I have made the choice to visit residents, for example whom did not have access to e-mail, did not feel comfortable talking on the phone or just simply preferred to see one of their representatives face-to-face.

"On these occasions I chose to put them first and gave them priority over the Town Hall and I make absolutely no apologies for doing so.

"I have little interest in jumping up and down in the chamber, once every eight weeks, attempting to score cheap political points against people who simply have an opposing political view to mine."