THE people of Bitterne are standing behind their local councillor Perry McMillan after he was banned from standing for his party at the next election.

Cllr McMillan was deselected by the Labour Party after refusing to vote with the city's ruling group during last month's budget-setting meeting in Southampton.

He protested about the loss of dozens of council jobs and a huge council tax rise of more than 18.5 per cent, both of which proposals were approved by the Labour Party.

The 43-year-old is now banned from standing for re-election in the Bitterne area and fears he could lose today's Labour Party whip at Southampton City Council - meaning he could be expelled from the party as a whole.

The Labour Party action comes despite a 500-name petition backing Cllr McMillan, including pop singer Billy Bragg.

But residents in the councillor's ward of Bitterne made it clear whose side they were on and all agreed Cllr McMillan was right to stand up for what he believed in.

Peter Hampson, 67, from St Elizabeth's Avenue, said: "He's been victimised."

Rachel Hiscock, 34, from Bitterne, added: "I think it stinks."

Another resident, 23-year-old Christine Small, praised Cllr McMillan for what he had done. She said: "It's right that he should stand up for what he believes in."

If Cllr McMillan loses today's whip he will no longer be allowed to sit with colleagues on the Labour benches and will also be barred from using Labour Party offices at the Civic Centre.

But he vowed to continue to air his views

on policies, whatever the result.

He said: "I will not shut up."

City Council leader Councillor June Bridle said it would only be known if the whip would be withdrawn from Cllr McMillan after today's meeting.

She said: "It will only be known after a joint meeting of the Labour group and the executive. The whip will make his recommendations then. We have to give Perry a fair hearing and that will take place later today."