OPPOSITION leaders have reacted to Cllr Paul Richardson’s council tax confession — with one chief accusing the Little Lever councillor and his party of “staggering hypocrisy”.

Tory leader Cllr David Greenhalgh said he believed UKIP had offered one of the most “vociferous and critical” voices in the wake of the ongoing council tax saga — in which Tory councillor Mudasir Dean and Labour councillor Ismail Ibrahim have been revealed as being summonsed for failure to pay tax on time.

Cllr Greenhalgh said: “I am staggered by this news because Cllr Richardson and his party have been amongst the most vociferous in their attacks on others and in their calls for transparency from the council.

“This issue has been in the public eye for some time now and you would have thought there would have been more humility from UKIP, knowing what we do now.”

He added: “But they have still gone for the jugular with other members and parties involved and I think it represents unbelievable hypocrisy.”

Bolton UKIP chief becomes THIRD councillor to admit not paying council tax on time

Council leader Cliff Morris said: “I would agree that people in glass houses should not throw stones.

“Cllr Richardson has done the right thing in coming forward but there are options people can take regarding their council tax payments before it gets to the stage of a court summons.

“This applies to councillors from all parties — they should not be late and they should pay on time.

“But if he has difficult financial circumstances then I don’t want to add to his problems.”