LONG-serving Burnley Liberal Democrat Jim Whittaker has crossed the council chamber and joined Labour - after slamming the party he left.

But a similar application to join the council's ruling group by newly-elected Independent Andrew Holder has been rejected by both national and local Labour Party chiefs.

The party's National Executive Council has ruled that the former local Labour officer stood against a sitting Labour councillor while himself still a party member in 1998 - and that bars him from returning to the party fold for five years.

Labour chiefs are cock-a-hoop over Coun Whittaker's decision after representing Briercliffe ward for the LibDems since 1991.

After two years of seeing their own party councillors defecting to the LibDems and the Independent group, Labour council leader Stuart Caddy said: "The tide has turned.

"We are delighted to welcome Coun Whittaker to our ranks - he will be an asset to the party and the council." Coun Whittaker, who joined the former SDP party 19 years ago, said his decision followed a disagreement with Burnley LibDem leader Gordon Birtwistle, but the basic reason was long-term disillusionment with the local party.

"At least Labour has its heart in the right place.

"I believe in opposition, but it should be constructive, not offensive."

Coun Whittaker said that if invited he would stand for Labour when his term expires in May.

"I believe all councillors should work together for Burnley," he added.

Coun Holder today declined to comment. Coun Birtwistle was unavailable to be contacted to comment.

In a letter to Coun Holder Independent group leader Coun Harry Brooks says: "Each of the other four Independent councillors agrees with me that in the circumstances we should no longer regard you as a member of the Independent group.

"Though it seems certain that the Labour Party will not readmit you, I find it disturbing that less than four months after being elected on a platform of heavy criticism of Burnley's Labour Council you should have made such an approach. I think the electors of Brunshaw will have good reason to feel deceived."

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