A senior Liverpool councillor named in the ECHO's parking ticket investigation has confirmed he will leave the council with a swipe at the Labour Party.
Former Labour cabinet member Barry Kushner was named as having the second highest number of rescinded parking tickets in our investigation, which revealed a 'back door' route for councillors to have fines cancelled by officers.
Following the revelations, Labour told Cllr Kushner, currently the chair of the authority's finance committee, that he would not be allowed to stand again for the party when his current term ends in May. It is understood that Cllr Kushner then appealed this decision.
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But at tonight's Liverpool Council budget meeting, Cllr Kushner confirmed he will be leaving the council, criticising Labour's appeal process as he did.
Stating that he was not leaving the council through choice, he added that Labour's appeal offer was more of a 're-hearing' that did not allow him proper representation and was timed to clash with the budget meeting.
He then confirmed his retirement from the council, adding: "I came into politics fighting austerity and we still need to do things in a different way, using our principles. I believe I have done a job of work on this city council and have tried to serve with integrity and honesty."
Tonight's meeting confirmed that a total of 18 current councillors will leave their roles in May - including former deputy mayor Cllr Ann O'Byrne who announced her own departure after she was named as having the highest total of rescinded parking tickets in our investigation.
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