A MONSTER Raving Loony Party candidate has failed in his bid to be co-opted to Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council.

Bert Priest accused the council of discriminating against him because of his affiliation to the wacky national party.

Councillors voted to co-opt Joanne Cox (Labour)to fill a vacancy when they met for a special meeting on Tuesday night.

She received seven votes, while Conservative David Pittaway polled four and Mr Priest one.

Mr Priest, a transport consultant who moved to Wolverley in February, attempted to stand for the parish council in the local elections on May 1, but his electoral registration form was lost.

"I spoke to staff at the district council on numerous occasions and they didn't tell me they hadn't got my electoral registration form until the last minute when I took in my nomination papers," he said.

A Wyre Forest District Council spokeswoman said Mr Priest's form had not been received prior to the deadline for election nominations. A form had now been processed, making him eligible to join the parish council.

Nobody stood for the vacancy on May 1 so Mr Priest then applied to be co-opted at the parish council's next meeting, but the decision was deferred until this week to give other would-be councillors the chance to apply.

"I feel I have been unfairly treated and discriminated against. Local councils should be above party politics, but I defend my democratic right to join any party I choose and I should not be discriminated against because of my political beliefs," said Mr Priest, who polled 135 votes in Cradley and Quarry Bank for the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election last year.

The shadow performing arts minister for his party added: "I am keen to be part of the community, to listen to residents and to be a spokesman for the people of Wolverley and Cookley. I am particularly interested in traffic calming.

"My party has a fun side which we put forward when campaigning in front of the media and a lot of our national policies are tongue in cheek.

"But there is another side to the party. We consider issues seriously and do not want to make a mockery of anyone."

Labour parish councillor Barry McFarland admitted he had not voted for Mr Priest because he was worried that to have someone from the Monster Raving Loony Party "might make the council a bit of a joke".

Conservative parish councillor Nigel Addison said the deferment had been a procedural matter, but he added: "If a candidate is suitable for the position and is prepared to work for residents then he is the best man for the job. Party politics should not come into it at parish level."