A FORMER deputy leader of Bolton Council, who once suggested naming a street after Hitler, is to stand in the Crompton by-election.

Former Hulton councillor Guy Harkin, who lost his seat in the all-out elections of 2004, has been selected by the Labour party to contest the seat on October 1.

He is the first person to be put forward to contest the seat.

During his colourful political career, Mr Harkin — who was deputy leader of the council for more than 20 years — grabbed the headlines by suggesting the authority name streets after the horrors of the Second World War, in a bid to prevent Barratt from building a heavily-opposed housing estate.

The story was dismissed by council officials at the time but in January, The Bolton News revealed discussions did take place.

Mr Harkin said: “We were scratching around to prevent a big national company dumping an estate on Bolton which the people didn’t want.

“After the government minister gave it the go-ahead, the only thing we had control over were the names of the streets.”

He has also been a supporter of water fluoridation and is a former director of the NHS North West Fluoridation Evaluation Group.

Mr Harkin stood in the 2008 elections in the Kearsley ward but lost out to Cllr John Rothwell by 383 votes.

The previous year he lost out to Cllr Rothwell’s wife Margaret by just 27 votes.

Labour council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “I am very pleased with Guy’s selection.

“He is a very strong candidate and I am looking forward to working with him again.”

The by-election has been called following the resignation of Labour’s Emma Scowcroft.

Ms Scowcroft said she was stepping down earlier this month, saying her role had become “increasingly difficult” having spent over two years juggling her council responsibilities with a job in London.

The Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives and Green Party have all said they intend to field candidates but have not yet announced their selections.

Mr Harkin said: “Politics is in my blood. It has been five years since I lost my seat but there is not a week goes by when someone doesn’t ask me to get something sorted for them.

“If I am elected then I know it will only be 18 months until the seat is up again so it is like a trial period. If I don’t perform then the electorate would have every right to kick me out.”