Rochdale racism row after eighth Lib Dem quits

Rochdale Liberal Democrats have been thrown into turmoil by the resignations of eight local Councillors amidst accusations of racism.

Councillor Mohammed Shariff (pictured), who represents Milkstone and Deeplish, quit the Lib Dems on Monday morning accusing some members of being racist. His resignation has brought the LibDem party to its knees as it’s now forced to go into opposition after ruling with Conservatives in a local coalition.

Councillor Shariff said: "I have made it very clear in the email I sent to the chief executive that one of the reasons I am resigning is that certain Lib Dem councillors are racist and nothing has been done about them."

Shariff claimed racism has been going on for up to four years and that during the recent local elections a Lib Dem Councillor made a racist remark and was not reprimanded.

He was one of nine Lib Dem councillors who signed a letter calling on the leader to resign after a row over who was to stand for the party in next May's local elections. Eight of these have now resigned however Shariff has refused to join them in forming a new party and will now serve as an independent.

Defending the party acting Lib Dem leader, Councillor Dale Mulgrew, claimed Shariff had failed to attend any of the group's emergency meetings and refuted his allegations.

He said: "These racist allegations are news to me and I have been on the council since 2003 and Councillor Shariff has not raised this matter in any of our recent discussions over the past few weeks. If he has names that he thinks are racist then I will challenge him to reveal who those members are.”