A LONG-serving former lead on children's services says a newly-launched investigation into child sex exploitation in Oldham is at risk of being hampered by Labour fears of losing control of the council at next May's local elections.

Former councillor Hugh McDonald who carried out the role for the local authority until 2013 and was also Labour Group's chief whip called on current members of the council to assist the inquiry "regardless of the political consequences and for the good of vulnerable children".

The 78-year-old grandfather alluded to a swirl of rumours circulating on social media over child child sex exploitation when he said: "Labour are panicking because they're going to get their backsides kicked next May."

He went on: "I think people are being far too careful about what they say. Once you mention Asians or black faces, they just ease back off, at the expense of young people who are being exploited.

"The problem we have in the Labour Party is that once you mention Asians, there's this fear of being labelled racist. But they're no different to anyone else.

"I'm no racist - one of my grandchildren is mixed race."

And he backed his former Labour colleague Kaiser Rehman who, as reported in last week's edition of The Oldham Times, claimed the honour culture in the Asian community was preventing victims coming forward and seeking help.

He said: "Kaiser is right to encourage kids affected to come forward. The more people come forward and tell of their experiences, the sooner we can eradicate this from our society."

Mr McDonald, who has been in the Labour Party for more than 55 years, was suspended from the Labour Group in 2013 for sharing an email written by the police inspector who was seconded to Oldham Council for child protection with the chairman of the child protection trust Positive Steps.

The email detailed locations and businesses in the town suspected of involvement with child sex exploitation.

As a result, he was suspended by the group and continued to serve on the council as an independent councillor until the 2014 local elections when he did not stand.

But Mr McDonald has no regrets about what he did in 2013.

He said: "I've been a member of the Labour Party since I was 18. There is nothing long with stuff leaking out. It means people are getting information - it's always gone on."