A FORMER councillor has denied that he was expelled from the Labour party for hurling ‘sexist’ abuse at another councillor.

Kenny Spain, who will now run for the Socialist Labour Party, was told by the Labour group he would not be allowed to stand at the May 5 election for them after being excluded from the approved panel.

It followed comments he allegedly made to Lynn Clare, the chosen candidate for the Rossmore ward.

He was rejected by the Local Government Committee and lost an appeal to the regional board of the Labour Party.

Cllr Derek Bateman said: “The main reason for his exclusion was how he treated Lynn Clare. He felt she had no right to stand when he wasn’t; he was certainly sexist in his actions and comments.”

Mr Spain denies these claims but does admit he has sworn at another councillor.

He said: “They recommended I go on the panel to be councillor on September 18, then on October 14 I got a letter to say I was unfit to be a Labour councillor.

“I admit I swore at Justin Madders but I thought he was man enough to come to me.”

Mr Spain said Justin Madders, Derek Bateman, Pat Merrick and Lynn Clare have all claimed he swore at them.

He says he missed his first appeal against the decision as, during stormy weather, people were advised not to travel.

When he attended a second hearing, none of the complainants were at the hearing.

Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and a Labour candidate for Rossmore ward, Cllr Merrick said he was not deselected as hasn’t been a councillor since Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council was replaced by Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2008.

Cllr Derek Bateman added: “He didn’t turn up for the first appeal, gave no apologies and left everyone else travelling to Warrington for nothing.”

Mr Spain refutes the claims and says no evidence has been produced.

“You ask for dates and times and places and they can’t give you them,” he added.

“They’ve picked on every little thing they can find to stop me.”