ONE of Southampton's most outspoken politicians has an agonising wait of up to a week before he finds out if he has lost his party's whip.

Rebel Labour Councillor Perry McMillan, 43, pictured, who represents the Bitterne ward, had a crunch meeting with party bosses on Friday to discuss his conduct during February's budget-setting meeting.

Labour's chief whip Councillor John Noone has until today before he passes his recommendations on to the Labour Group at Southampton City Council.

The group will then decide if they have a further meeting, pencilled in for March 17, to decide if Cllr McMillan's whip will be formally withdrawn.

If that happens, Cllr McMillan will no longer be allowed to sit with colleagues on the Labour benches.

He would also be barred from using Labour party offices at the Civic Centre - and take no further part in group decisions.

Last week Cllr McMillan was banned from standing for his own party at the next election by Southampton's Labour party executive.

Despite support from pop star Billy Bragg and a 500-name petition signed by residents, Cllr McMillan was de-selected by the party and barred from standing on May 1.

Cllr McMillan was de-selected 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 18.5 per cent, both of which proposals were approved by the Labour Party.

Cllr McMillan was keeping tight-lipped about the details of the latest meeting between himself and Cllr Noone.

He told the Daily Echo he had been asked not to comment about the details of the meeting.

It is understood that Cllr McMillan has received messages of support from hundreds of angry Bitterne residents for his actions.

He has also received messages of support from as far away as Scotland.

Labour's City Council leader Councillor June Bridle said: "We have to wait for the whip's report.

"He will be thinking about it over the weekend and as to whether there should be a further meeting.

"It is going through a process. Like every other organisation, you have rules.

"You have to make sure whether they are being obeyed.

"We are in the middle of that process."