A politician vying to be Labour’s candidate in a key seat at the next general election has "held his hands up" to behaviour that "fell below that expected of a councillor".

Cllr Liam O’Rourke, Rochdale Council’s environment chief, has been shortlisted for Heywood and Middleton when the nation next goes to the polls.

Currently held by Chris Clarkson – the constituency’s first ever Tory MP – it will no doubt be a target for Labour as it looks to rebuild its ‘red wall’ across the north of England.

Cllr O’Rourke has admitted he "spoke too plainly" to officers at a meeting in Heywood in October, for which he later made a public apology.

Minutes from the last meeting of Heywood Township’s delegated sub committee – say he "acknowledged that his behaviour on that evening fell below that expected of a councillor and recognised that the tone and comments made were not acceptable".

Contacted about the matter after making his bid to become a parliamentary candidate, the North Heywood councillor said he "held his hands up" to the mistake – but would always stand up for residents who have been let down.

“In a meeting we were told that Heywood Christmas lights wouldn’t be ready in time, which I knew would disappoint local residents,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“I didn’t use any inappropriate language, but the officer involved felt I expressed my disappointment too plainly. I apologised for that as soon as I had the opportunity to do so.”

He added: “I believe you should hold your hands up and admit when you make a mistake. I think people recognise that we’re all human.

“I’m passionate about our towns and will always stand up for our residents when they have been let down.”

Minutes from the meeting also record that Cllr O’Rourke gave "sincere apologies" to the officers as well as fellow councillors and members of the public who were in attendance.

It adds that he assured the meeting that there would be "no repetition of this type of behaviour" and "looks forward to continuing to work with officers at the council".

Also shortlisted for Heywood and Middleton are fellow Rochdale councillors Elsie Blundell and Iram Faisal, as well as Cllr Azhar Ali, leader of Lancashire County Council’s Labour group.

By the time the next general election is called the seat is likely to have been renamed "Heywood" – with South and East Middleton hived off to a new "Manchester Blackley" constituency under a boundary shake-up.