PARKS; LAB HOLD: A VETERAN Labour councillor marked his re-election by accusing the party at national level of losing touch with the people.
And he believes the ongoing bloodshed in Iraq is a major alienating factor.
Steve Allsopp, 52, has represented the people of Parks for half his life. When his new term ends, he will have served for 30 years.
In 2002, Labour held Parks with 64 percent of the votes cast. Last year that percentage was down to 54 and yesterday's Labour vote amounted to 43.39 per cent.
And Coun Allsopp was forthright when asked about the slip in his party's popularity.
He said: "I am obviously pleased to be representing the people of the ward, but there are also mixed feelings about the message we are sending. This is the kind of mid-term protest you expect, but I think there is also deep unhappiness about the way the national Labour party seems to be moving."
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