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Rochdale politically reflects the nation in that is run by a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

But six Lib Dem councillors have resigned there to sit as independents.

This is not great for the party which in some ways considers Rochdale its spiritual home.

It reminds me of the four councillors who did the same thing in Halton. The last I heard they were considering setting-up their own group.

The Liberal Democrats will at least be pleased that their former colleagues have not defected to Labour. But what has caused the departures?

These things can be difficult to unravel.

I think it's a combination of people being unhappy with the national direction, in other words spending cuts which are likely to have a painful local impact.

But there is also resentment about the way councillors have been forced to reapply to stand again and some have not been successful.

Maybe this is modernisation or maybe it is a lack of sensitivity.

Either way it is the kind of damaging disunity the party could do without.

There are rumours that others are on the brink of departure.

It leaves the coalition with a majority of three.

But the Lib Dems believe Labour will not topple the coalition because it would leave them having to implement the cuts.

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