FORMER City of York Council leader Rod Hills's suspension from the Labour Party was lifted in the month that he died, the Evening Press has learned.

Mr Hills was suspended from the party in May last year, two days after he was arrested. A number of allegations, including blackmail, and soliciting women, were made against him.

The suspension remained in place when Mr Hills was re-arrested and investigated in connection with the death of his wife Carol Wallace. All charges against Mr Hills, a Labour member for almost 40 years, were eventually dropped.

After the final set of charges against him were dropped, Mr Hills blasted the Labour Party for "abandoning him."

A Labour spokesman said: "The investigations were all complete. We waited until their conclusion, once that had happened we took the view that the suspension should be lifted. Rod had many friends in the Labour Party and they remained supportive throughout his political career."

Clifton councillor Alan Jones, who served alongside Mr Hills, said: "He was sad to be suspended, but he understood the suspension was carried out under the rules of the party. The party meant a lot to him. He was working as a party member for the people of York."

Mr Hills died of natural causes at a flat in Chapeltown, Leeds, on July 29 this year.

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, October 08, 2003