NORTH-EAST mayor Ray Mallon has snubbed overtures by the Labour Party and vowed to remain an independent directly-elected official.

The former head of Middlesbrough CID and now mayor of the town said that by being an independent mayor, he "can truly take decisions for the good of the town, rather than the good of a particular party".

Mr Mallon, who swept to power in April 2002 with a landslide 26,362 votes, said: "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 defecting to the Labour Party, or that I intend to stand as an MP at the next election, which will probably take place next year.''

Mr Mallon, writing in his Northern Echo column, said: "Speculation of this nature may seem like harmless tittle tattle, but it can cause problems because if I am negotiating with businesses or discussing matters with council staff they want some reassurance 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."

But tantalisingly, Mr Mallon adds: "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."

Mr Mallon says he has no intention of quitting his post as mayor to stand as an MP.

He reaffirmed his decision following a further council chamber clash between himself and independent councillor Jackie Elder.

Mrs Elder asked the mayor at a council meeting this week if he would be willing to forego his £5,000 pay increase.

Mr Mallon told her: "You are doing this to try to get my attention. You have had it for 60 seconds and I will go back to ignoring you."

Mr Mallon has complained in the past of being sexually harassed by Mrs Elder and of being sent raunchy prose which Mrs Elder insisted was creative writing.

She has previously been banned from parking in the town hall quadrangle after being accused of jamming in Mr Mallon's car.