A NEWLY-elected Liberal Democrat councillor has been accused of using a parish priest to help him win his seat.

Michael Dickinson, who was elected last Thursday as the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Central ward, has been told that he should resign after St Luke's Parish Priest, Father Leslie Pinfield, accused Coun Dickinson of misquoting him.

Father Leslie was pictured and quoted in the Liberal Democrat publication Focus under the headline "I'm backing Michael" saying: "News that prostitution is being tackled in this area is wonderful. I am impressed with the work of Michael and the Lib Dems in the fight to clean up our area."

But Broad Street Commun-ity Council chairman, Les Horn, who has led a community campaign to banish prostitutes and pimps from the streets of central Swindon, was so amazed by the comments that he wrote to Father Pinfield.

The Father's reply read: "I very much regret the appearance of my photograph in the Dem circular . . . suggesting that I was encouraging people to support the party candidate. Anyone at St Luke's or in any of my previous parishes will tell you that I have never used the pulpit to preach politics and I have no intention of doing do.

"The photograph with Michael Dickinson was taken many months ago and was used in an earlier Lib Dem leaflet to show the candidate discussing local matters.

"We did indeed have a discussion about the problem of prostitution in the neighbourhood, as I have done with many other people of all political persuasions. I am afraid that the rest of it is made up.

"I did not say what they claimed I said on the leaflet and I have duly received an apology from them for this mistake." Coun Dickinson, whose grandfather was a former Conservative councillor and Swindon mayor, works in the accounts department of New College and gained Central Ward from the Labour group's deputy leader, David Cox, by 16 votes and was thought to be one of the major surprises of Thursday night's borough election, in which Labour lost six seats.

He declined to comment, other than to say he personally had not issued an apology, and instead referred comments to his election agent, outgoing mayor Stan Pajak.

Coun Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said: "I don't think there is anything in it and there's is nothing wrong with what he (Father Pinfield) has said. It's a big fuss about nothing and there have been no letters of apology.

"This is sour grapes and that's all it is about and calls for Michael's resignation. He has been elected and is now getting down to the job in hand."

The same picture of Father Pinfield was used last year when Coun Dickinson lost in Eastcott ward.

Coun John Taylor (Lab, Central) said: "I'm pushing for him to do the honourable thing and resign at the first opportunity.

"It's upset me because it's a slight on the community through the church, which is obscene."

Lib Dem leader, Mike Evemy (Eastcott), said: "Michael is a new councillor and has been working on issues in central ward, like prostitution.

"I was given to understand the leaflet was written in good faith but if there has been a misunderstanding then it has been resolved now."