CALLS are being made for Ismail Ibrahim to stand down from his role as a borough councillor in the wake of today’s revelations.

The leaders of Bolton’s Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups believe stepping down as a member of the council would be the right course of action — because of his decision not to come forward sooner.

Council leader Cliff Morris has already confirmed that Cllr Ibrahim has been stripped of his role as chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee — but opposition leaders think this does not go far enough.

Tory leader Cllr David Greenhalgh said: “I think the right thing for him to do is to go — having taken the length of time he has done and having had the support of the council, only to find out the decision was wrong.

“I don’t know what the personal circumstances were but it is very regrettable that this has gone on for so long and taken up so much time and costs — not just with legal fees but with officer time as well.

“I think he should go but it is his decision.”

Lib Dem leader Cllr Roger Hayes said: “He is the chairman of the committee which scrutinises issues such as council tax so it is right that he has lost that position.

“I don’t think that will be enough for the people of Bolton. I think standing down as a councillor is the correct thing for him to do — not for the original indiscretion but for that fact that he tried to shelter for so long behind it.”

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UKIP leader Cllr Sean Hornby said: “I think whether he stays on as a councillor is an issue for him to decide and there is also a group issue for the Labour party to deal with.

“I think he needs time to go away and speak with his local branch members because they are the ones that selected him in the first place.

“It is going to be a very uncomfortable time for him and I feel sorry for his family as they are the innocent ones here.”