WARRINGTON South’s Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate is still awaiting a ‘fair trial’ following three outstanding complaints to the council from 2013.

Cllr Kevin Bennett (TUSC – Fairfield and Howley) says he has continually asked for a hearing for the matters which include a complaint against council leader, Terry O’Neill, for having a question 'struck' from the council summons at the 'last minute'.

The former Labour councillor has also raised a matter against Cllr Peter Carey (LAB - Fairfield and Howley), who was Mayor at the time, for ‘not following’ the constitution or 'proper procedure' of the council by calling the police to have him removed from the chamber.

The final one is against Cllr Pauline Nelson for 'leading a chant' in the council foyer of a group of Labour councillors shouting 'out, out, out' at him.

Cllr Bennett insists he has been promised a hearing but is yet to get confirmation of this.

"It has gone on for so long now – I just want there to be a fair trial because I don’t believe the incidents that happened were fair or right – they need to be looked into,” he said.

Cllr Bennett has also informed the council he would like to make a formal complaint to the council’s standards committee against Cllr O’Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) and Cllr Tony Higgins (LAB – Fairfield and Howley) for 'untrue remarks' in March regarding the living wage.

He believes both are in breach of the councillors code of conduct for accusing him of voting against the living wage, although Cllr Higgins has strongly denied this.

Both Cllr O’Neill and Cllr Higgins have previously confirmed that they will not be apologising and council officials are now believed to be set to ‘discuss’ the matter.

TUSC’s national agent, Clive Heemskerk, has also been in contact with the councillors in question and urged them to retract their ‘claims’.

In an e-mail sent to the pair, he said: "TUSC is totally in favour of robust debate on such vital issues for working people but we utterly deplore the methods of spin and intimidation.

"It was of course Cllr Bennett who originally moved that Warrington Borough Council should pay the living wage and I understand that TUSC remains the only party on the council committed to its immediate introduction."

Cllr Stefan Krizanac (LD – Westbrook) has also confirmed he is still demanding an apology from both councillors.

Labour did not comment on the matters.