A FORMER Labour councillor has resigned from the party because of cuts in incapacity benefits.

Joe Halligan claims that instead of sorting out fraudsters the present system promoted by the government is penalising genuine claimants.

He claims that he and many other people in the borough are getting a raw deal from the Benefits Agency.

Joe, of Mill Street, Crewe is unable to work because of a serious lung condition. He became a borough councillor for the town's St John ward in 1997 after the death of veteran member Len Turnock.

He served for six months but failed to get re-elected.

That spell on the council cost him benefits. Before it his income support was boosted by disability living allowance.

After it he was re-assessed and his benefits reduced to a Job Seeker's Allowance of £50 a week.

"The Agency ruled that if I could be a councillor then I could hold down a job. But that's not the case. My medical situation has not changed," he said.

"I took on the task for the community. The expenses I got during my council work made it possible for me to scrape through. But now I am struggling and in danger of losing my home. I have resigned from the party because I feel let down," he added.

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