A councillor charged with common assault and use of abusive language has been suspended by the national Labour Party.

Cllr Matt Bryan, 29, who represents Upton on Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), last month pleaded not guilty before Chester magistrates following an incident believed to have involved a doorman at Kuckoo in Watergate Street on February 13 this year.

There will be a trial in November.

The councillor, from Kings Crescent West, Boughton, has also been banned for life by Chester Pubwatch but has the right of appeal.

'Suspension' letter

Cllr Bryan told The Chronicle he had received a letter from the Labour Party confirming his suspension ‘without prejudice’ and said he was banned from attending constituency Labour Party meetings or the meetings of the ruling Labour group on CWaC.

However, he remains a member of the Labour group and will 'be expected' to vote with his group, which has a majority of just one.

Cllr Bryan said: “The decision has been made by the London office and it was ‘without prejudice’ – and I will still be expected to the vote with the Labour group – until I’m exonerated in November.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "Matt Bryan is suspended from the Labour Party. It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing police matter."

Chester Magistrates Court
Chester Magistrates Court

Cllr Bryan, who is well known for his anti-fracking stance, has been charged with common assault and use of threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of/provoke unlawful violence.

He has decided to step down from his position as deputy chairman of the licensing committee until the matter is resolved.

The lifetime Pubwatch ban - understood to have been issued on March 25 - will prevent Cllr Bryan from entering Chester licensed premises signed up to the scheme. However, Pubwatch has a procedure by which banned individuals can submit an appeal.

'Not found guilty of any offence'

In a statement issued earlier this week, Cllr Bryan said: “Pubwatch is an organisation that works hard to support licensed premises and their employees in our city. When an issue is raised, they have a duty to respond and I respect that. I will be writing to the chairman of Pubwatch privately to discuss this matter. I will be absolutely clear, I have not been found guilty of any offence.”

He added: “The doorman has suggested that I had ‘spat at him’ – an accusation that I deny entirely. I have pleaded not guilty and I am confident that there will be a positive outcome when the case is heard in November. In the meantime I have decided to stand down from the licensing committee until this is resolved.”

Frank Marnell, chairman of Chester Pubwatch, did not wish to comment.