"I'm only here for the Bury Black Pudding!" claims controversial Councillor.

Controversial continental Councillor David Murphy can continue claiming his councillor's allowance after attending last week's full Council Meeting - for less than an hour! The Middleton East Councillor, who has claimed nearly £20,000 of taxpayer's money since moving to Murcia in Spain over two years ago, attended the meeting ensuring that he can claim Middleton taxpayer's money for another six months.

Councillor Murphy was in last chance saloon at the meeting and failure to attend would have meant that he broke the 'six month rule,' forcing him to be kicked off the council.

The Independent Councillor David Murphy, who up to little over a year ago was still a member of the Labour Party, is paid £7,500 plus expenses per year for sitting as a Middleton East Councillor.

Chair of Heywood and Middleton Liberal Democrats, Councillor Peter Rush, said: "His sole contribution to the council meeting last week was an attack on the Liberal Democrats for putting in a Freedom of Information Request to see exactly how much money Councillor Murphy was claiming from the Middleton tax-payer whilst living in Spain! The brass neck of this man knows no bounds, he spoke for the first time in 2 and a half years and never mentioned Middleton, its residents or any of its concerns once! He is so far removed from what is happening in Middleton you'd have to laugh if you didn't know it wasn't costing the Middleton taxpayer thousands of pounds every year."

Councillor Murphy was further condemned by Middleton Lib Dem Agent Adam Power, saying: "I personally overheard Councillor Murphy, whilst tucking into his tax payer funded meal, saying 'I've been to Bury and got my Black Pudding to take back to Spain with me.' Not only is he wasting tax payer's money whilst clocking up his air-miles, Murcia's resident meat mule is sticking two fingers up to local Middleton traders by taking his business to Bury. This man has no shame. The Liberal Democrats in Middleton will continue our campaign for Councillor Murphy to do the right thing and stand down from Council. Only then will the residents of Middleton East be able to feel like they are getting value for money from there Council Tax."