Councillor shuns calls for resignation

COUNCILLOR Mike Buckley: won’t resign

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

DEFIANT parish councillor Mike Buckley is refusing to resign after being sentenced for downloading indecent images of naked boys.

Sixty eight-year-old Buckley’s sentence includes a strict 28-day curfew, which will prevent him leaving his Dobcross home between 8am-4pm from next week.

Despite calls for his resignation from councillors and being shunned by fellow independents, in an exclusive interview he said: “I have made it clear to Neil Allsopp, the chair of Saddleworth Parish Council. This is a personal matter and has no bearing on my work for the council. I will not be resigning.”

Yesterday the trial judge said the councillor had suffered a “fall from grace.”

Afterwards parish council chair Neil Allsopp said: “It would be inappropriate for Councillor Buckley to continue to serve on Saddleworth Parish Council. I have invited him to tender his resignation, in the best interests of all concerned.

“It is my intention to refer the matter to the borough solicitor for investigation under the members’ code of conduct.”

Councillor Buckley was re-elected as an independent councillor for Dobcross and Diggle in last year’s parish elections, edging independents into top spot. Fellow independents Rob Knotts, Keith Lucas, Katrina Roman, Geoff Bayley, Lesley Brown and Nicola Kirkham, who also serves on Oldham Council, said in a statement his conviction is a “sad episode in his long-standing contribution to public service.

“Councillor Buckley has been noted for his dedication to his work. However his conviction could seriously undermine his position. Councillor Buckley, in our opinion, has violated a Councillor’s Code of Conduct. Our position is that as Independent councillors we disassociate ourselves from Councillor Buckley.”

Councillor Knotts added afterwards: “Parish councillors have a responsibility to represent residents of all ages, gender, race, creed and colour in a community. Councillor Buckley’s behaviour has not reflected or respected that responsibility. My view is that he should resign immediately from the parish council.”