Joe’s left out in the poll cold

Controversial Labour stalwart Joe Fitzpatrick has been told he cannot be a candidate for the party in May’s local elections.

The former Oldham councillor was called to a meeting with Labour North West officials on Wednesday, to defend claims that he had damaged the party.

But a defiant Mr Fitzpatrick, who was former immigration minister Phil Woolas’s agent at five elections, has already lodged an appeal and says he will take his case to the courts.

He was in a short list of three on the panel for Waterhead Ward, and if selected as the Labour candidate on February 10, would have fought in May’s local elections.

The decision to remove him followed his appearance at the historic Election Court in Uppermill in September which unseated Mr Woolas — the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth for 13 years — for lying about his Liberal Democrat opponent Elwyn Watkins.

Mr Fitzpatrick was called as a witness at the court where he defended statements in Labour’s election leaflets.

Today Mr Fitzpatrick said: “My point is I have been accused of no crime and no offence and yet they have decided to throw me off the panel.”

A North West Labour spokesman said the process was ongoing and Mr Fitzpatrick had a right of appeal.