One of the constant criticisms of politicans is that they cannot be trusted to tell the truth, that what they say one day they will happily change the next if it helps them.

It is a condition that affects MPs of all levels. Just recently we have seen the Prime Minister perform a remarkable U-turn in allowing Ken Livingstone to return to the fold without serving the full term of his suspension.

The first point to make is that the Labour Party is effectively a club and how they interpret their rules is entirely up to them. Secondly, I do have admiration for people who, when they realise they have made a mistake, are prepared to admit as much.

For political parties to survive in Government they have to have party discipline. This means that often the way an MP votes depends on which way his party tells him to vote rather than what his conscience or his constituents tell him.

Scores of Labour rebels who vowed to oppose the Government's plans for funding higher education are now discovering how difficult it is to stand up to the party.

Sir Alex Ferguson is apparently nicknamed "hairdryer" because the full force of his verbal rollickings are allegedly so intense they blow a player's hair back. But I am told that this pales into insignificance compared to the pressure party whips can bring to bear on wavering MPs.

The biggest plus to being an independent mayor is the fact that I can truly take decisions for the good of the town rather than the good of a particular party. But, by being independent, you have to cope without the support of a party machine and the chances of ever holding a position of power within Parliament are nil.

I've made no secret in the past of the fact that my leanings are broadly towards Labour but our agenda in Middlesbrough is acceptable to all political persuasions.

This has led to speculation that I am about to join Ken Livingstone in signing up to the Labour Party or that I intend to stand as an MP at the next election, which will probably take place next year.

Speculation of this nature may seem like harmless tittle tattle but it can cause real problems because, if I am negotiating with businesses or discussing matters with council staff, they want some assurance that I will see a particular job through.

To set the record straight therefore, I feel it would be somewhat disingenuous to the people who voted me in as an independent if just one third of the way through my term I became a Labour mayor.

It may be that, one day, I will decide to join a political party but certainly in the foreseeable future I shall remain an independent.

I also think it would be a bit off for me to quit half way through my tenure in order to stand as a Member of Parliament at the next General Election either as an independent or attached to a party. I have no intention of doing so.

These are exciting times for Middlesbrough on the development front and I really do feel the town is about to take off, to create its own "designer label".

So I intend to remain an independent, to fulfil my five-year term as mayor and I will decide nearer the time whether to stand again for re-election in 2007.

Published: 23/01/2004