Former mayor joins calls for Buckley to quit

Mike Buckley

Oldham’s former mayor has joined a move to urge a parish councillor to step down after being found guilty of downloading indecent images of naked boys.

Councillor John Hudson was speaking in the aftermath of Saddleworth Parish councillor Mike Buckley’s refusal to leave the council following a Manchester Crown Court hearing.

On Wednesday Buckley - a former Lib-Dem, now independent - was told by the trial judge he has suffered “a public fall from grace”.

After the verdict, Saddleworth Parish Council chairman Neil Allsopp asked Buckley to tender his resignation. The councillor refused.

Now Councillor Hudson (76), four times Saddleworth Parish Council chair and leader of the Conservative group, has declared: “We support the parish council chair in his actions with regard to Councillor Buckley.”

And newly-elected Conservative parish councillor Jamie Curley said: “Councillor Buckley’s position is untenable. I would expect him to resign as a parish councillor.”

Labour parish councillor, Steve Hewitt, echoed their views, saying: “I feel that Councillor Buckley is bringing the parish council into disrepute. He should resign as soon as possible. I feel he is not a fit and proper person to be a councillor.

“When party members discussed the situation it was felt prudent to give Councillor Buckley time to consider his position and hopefully do the honourable thing. Councillor Buckley has since stated the he will not resign.”

Labour Party Branch Secretary, Andrew Sayers said: “We do not support witch hunts, but at our next members meeting we will consider if there is anything else we can do to have this councillor removed if he has not already resigned.”

But Buckley remains defiant, and in a fresh statement to the Chronicle he said: “I do not wish to comment on the sentence. Individuals’ views on whether I should stand down from the parish council are just that — their views. I do not intend to enter into a sparring match with other members of the parish council, Oldham Council or other politicians.”

“I intend to continue my work on the parish council defending and promoting the best interest of Saddleworth.”

The parish council’s Lib-Dem group had warned they will move a vote no confidence if he continues to stand on the council.