A FORMER Mayor should stand down as a councillor because of his breach of coronavirus restrictions a veteran colleague has said. Cllr Iftakhar Hussain resigned as Blackburn with Darwen borough’s ‘first citizen’ this week and suspended himself from the council’s ruling Labour group after being given a £200 fine. Now Darwen East Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Browne said he should quit as a councillor when he is up for election in May. Bastwell and Daisyfield ward’s Cllr Hussain said: “I shall be sitting as an Independent and continuing to represent the people in may ward as I have always done.
A MAYOR today quit his post after being given a £200 fine for flouting coronavirus restrictions. Cllr Iftakhar Hussain has resigned as Blackburn with Darwen Borough s First Citizen and suspended himself from the council s ruling Labour group. His decision came as town hall conduct bosses launched an investigation after the incident on Saturday. Cllr Hussain apologised for an ‘error of judgement’ in attending an event, described as ‘a wedding’ with up to 30 people present. The Bastwell and Daisyfield councillor was one of nine people fined by police. He said: Given recent events I have taken the decision to step down from my position as the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen with immediate effect.