BOLTON councillor Martin McLoughlin will not be defending his council seat next May after being ousted by his Labour colleagues.

Cllr McLoughlin lost out to Linda Byrne by just one vote at a Labour Party selection meeting at Bolton Central ward this week.

Mrs Byrne lost her seat in Bradshaw at local elections earlier this year and is hoping for a return to local authority politics.

Dublin-born Cllr McLoughlin has represented Central Ward since he was elected in 1995, working alongside council leader Bob Howarth and John Noble.

He said he would be sorry to give up the seat next year but has vowed he will return to represent the ward.

He told the BEN: "I'm still on the selection panel but the only ward I'm really interested in is Central because that is where I live. "I'm the only councillor who lives in the ward and I believe people who live in the area understand local problems better.

"I'm still a councillor until next May. I will continue to represent people and I'm sure I will be back. There is always the following year."

Cllr McLoughlin, a lecturer in special educational needs at Bolton College, will continue to play a role in local authority affairs via the local TUC.

As President of Bolton and District United Trades Council, Cllr McLoughlin will serve as a co-opted member of some council committees after he gives up his seat.

Cllr McLoughlin has been President of the Trades Council for six years and was Secretary for 10 years before that.

A selection meeting in Tonge ward will have to be re-run after members failed to decide on a candidate.

Cllr Paul Perry is seeking to defend the seat he has occupied since 1991.

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