A HORWICH town councillor is turning his back on the Labour party, blaming a culture of “schoolyard bullying” and “autocratic” members.

Cllr Glen Atkinson was elected onto the town council for Labour last May after having previous association with the Liberal Democrats, standing for the party in Breightmet in 2010.

With the entire town council up for election on May 7, Cllr Atkinson has decided to stand on behalf of the Liberal Democrats again, describing the party as his “true home.”

He said he could no longer operate alongside the “clashing personalities” of the Horwich Labour group and will be on the ballot for the Lib Dems in the church ward in May.

The 46-year-old former youth worker said: “I left the Liberal Democrat party because of the tuition fees issue in 2010.

“It was something I felt very strongly about because I had one child at university and another about to go, so I felt that I had to take a stand and I bowed out.

“Nick Clegg has since apologised for that and I was pleased with that.

“I was approached to join Labour very shortly before the last election, once I joined I quickly realised that it wasn’t for me.

“I am not into schoolyard bullying and autocratic councillors pushing for power and control — I believe we should be working together for the good of the community and that wasn’t the case at all.

“There are some very strong personalities in the Labour group who are clashing and working for their own interests — that doesn’t tick boxes for me.”

The leader of the town council, Labour’s Kevin Mckeon said he felt Cllr Atkinson had acted with “unnecessary haste.”

He said: “There were some personal issues between Glen and in particular another member of the Labour group — a clash of personalities.

“I would say that the Liberal Democrats in Horwich have a history of unstable commitment and I don’t think Glen joining them indicates a commitment to the party.”