The Mancunian Way: 'Not the letter of the law'

Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.

Here's the Mancunian Way for today:

Hello

When Ordsall councillor Chris Twells’ name appeared on the ballot paper in the Cotswold District Council election, it was laughed off that there was no chance he would win the Gloucestershire seat.

But, as we discussed in the Mancunian Way a few weeks back, the Liberal Democrat representative did end up winning the seat Tetbury with Upton for Cotwold District Council and held the unique position of being councillor for both areas.

It was the story that pretty much dominated the local elections with Salford mayor Paul Dennett urging him to resign from his Ordsall seat to ’focus on the Cotswolds’. Despite initially expressing intent to do as the mayor had asked - by telling the BBC he would ‘establish what action I need to take to resign as a councillor’ - it appears he now plans to stay at both wards.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporter Nick Jackson, Coun Twells said he had no intention of resigning but instead would not contest his re-election next year. “Nothing I’ve done is fraudulent and it is completely within the law and the [local election] monitoring officer has confirmed that,” he expressed.

While an investigation takes place, Coun Twells, who said he owns property in both Salford and Tetbury, is effectively an Independent in both wards. “I’m sitting as an Independent member while my suspension from the Liberal Democrats is active,” he said.

“Suspension is a neutral act. It doesn’t mean I’ve done anything wrong and I’m hoping that within the next few months, the case