LABOUR party members in Bolton South-east have issued their strongest condemnation to date over rumours that Ruth Kelly could switch to their constituency.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been strongly linked with a move to the constituency from her marginal Bolton West seat.
Ms Kelly secured a third term by a narrow 2,064 votes at the 2005 General Election, while Dr Brian Iddon, who is retiring ahead of the next poll, won Bolton South-east with a 11,638 majority.
But at a meeting of Bolton South-east Constituency Labour Party on Monday, Cllr Sean Hornby issued a statement he hoped "will put closure on the matter".
He added: "Ruth Kelly has made no approach whatsoever to the executive of the Bolton South-east Constituency Labour Party.
"At this moment in time, she appears to the victim of a witch hunt by the media.
"She is a hard-working MP for Bolton West, she has been a minister for several years now and she should be allowed get on with what she was elected to do."
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