Ousted Judge on council comeback trail

CROMPTON ward bid . . . Bernard Judge

VETERAN deselected Royton councillor Bernard Judge is hoping to take his experience to Crompton after being chosen as Labour’s candidate for the ward.

In December Councillor Judge (68) told the Chronicle he was “bemused” when members of his local Labour Party deselected him for the Royton North seat he had held for 30 years.

Labour Party members have now put their faith back in the councillor and he will battle for a seat in Crompton in May’s local elections.

Councillor Judge said: “I’m really happy, I still have a lot of unfinished business. I have a great deal more to offer so I was very pleased to be selected.

“I’m coming in as a candidate with a lot of experience. I have built up an understanding of how many crucial departments and organisations work over my many years in office. If there is a problem I can usually sort it with a simple phone call.”

Councillor Judge, who has lived in Royton for 42 years, added: “Crompton is just a stone’s throw away from where I live and I know a lot of people in the area. The make up of the ward is very similar, it shares the same problems but the same positives as well.”