A SENIOR Labour councillor has been reported to Bolton Council over claims he shouted abuse at a losing Conservative candidate during last Thursday’s election count.

Tory supporter Ian Upton has reported Cllr Guy Harkin, who was re-elected to the council in last year’s Crompton by-election, to Bolton Council chief executive Sean Harriss after being “disgusted” at his behaviour at the Bolton Arena count.

Mr Upton alleges Cllr Harkin made a “slanderous”

reference to a recent national newspaper article which made claims about Bolton North East candidate Deborah Dunleavy.

He said: “He seemed to take pride in wanting to upset people in whatever manner was available to him all the while the rest of the Labour Party candidates and members behaved professionally, with courtesy and with some semblance of respect to their political opponents.

“This is not the behaviour we expect of party members and more so I find it quite disgraceful that this person was allowed to stay on site.”

Ms Dunleavy, who was loudly booed by Labour supporters during her speech, left Bolton Arena after the result had been announced by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Norman Critchley, the returning officer.

A film of that speech has now been uploaded to video sharing website You Tube.

Mr Upton added: “You may ask yourself why our candidate left the arena, perhaps Ms Dunleavy felt more comfortable not being subject to this type of abuse and harassment.”

But last night, Cllr Harkin dismissed the row and said he had experienced abuse of his own while on the campaign trail.

He said: “All I did was make reference to the Sunday Mirror article. It was perfectly normal election night banter.

“I was hounded by people shouting abuse while I was out delivering leaflets and other Labour people experienced the same so it is a bit rich for them to make this complaint. I could have complained about my treatment but I haven’t.”

A council spokesman confirmed: “The council’s Monitoring Officer will be contacting Mr Upton to provide him with the necessary forms to refer the complaint to the Standards Board. If the complaint is referred to the Standards Board, it will be investigated.”

Ms Dunleavy was unavailable for comment.