JOHN Taylor (Lab, Central) admitted to disappointing a few people at last night's Full Council meeting when he failed to cross the floor to join the Conservative group as was roundly predicted.

The worst kept rumour at the Civic Offices had Coun Taylor, a Labour councillor for Central ward since May 1997, crossing the chamber to join the Tories.

Many rumourmongers, who took delight in saying Coun Taylor and the Labour group are not natural bedfellows, were left with egg on their faces as their prophecy did not come true.

It would have made the meeting much more interesting and meant the Conservative group would have become the majority party on the council with 29 councillors, but alas, the hung council continues.

Coun Taylor said: "It was something of a badly kept rumour and I can only assume that it was started by one of the other two parties. I've never thought of crossing the floor and there has never been a grain of substance in the rumour at all I was shocked when I first heard about it and couldn't understand where it had come from."

Coun Taylor, who lives with his wife in Upper Stratton, prides himself on his Yorkshire mining stock background and spent 38-years serving with the Army. He saw an opportunity to continue public service as a councillor and has successfully fought three by-elections.

"Trust and loyalty are important values in local government and I have loyalty towards the people of Central and the Labour party," he said. "The people of Central have put their trust in me and I fully intend to repay them with the same trust."