by SIMON ROGERSON A councillor who displayed a photograph of his pierced penis on an internet site has been asked to stand down as a school governor.

Rayners Lane Liberal Democrat councillor Alastair Alexander has provoked the ire of fellow governors at Grimsdyke First and Middle Schools, who recently learned about the controversial photograph.

The photograph shows Mr Alexander's penis complete with a metal ring known as a Prince Albert.

So far it has only attracted objections from former councillor Herbert Crossman, who stood unsuccessfully against Mr Alexander at May's elections.

But the chairman of governors at Grimsdyke school, David Payne, recently wrote to Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Mary Graham and complained that the internet site "could be considered to border on pornographic".

Mr Payne went on in his letter: "I believe strongly that his behaviour and publication of this matter is not appropriate for a school governor.

"He is at present a LEA nominated school governor...and has by his action lost all credibility and respect of the governing body, teachers and parents. I personally believe that he is now totally unsuitable to be a school governor.

In a separate statement given on Tuesday, Mr Payne said his complaint was not politically motivated, but that he nevertheless sought Mr Alexander's resignation from the board.

In response Mr Alexander -- who set up security mechanisms around the offending photograph -- said he had been under the mistaken impression that was no longer a governor in any case.

"I had sincerely believed that I was not a governor," he said. "I will not be seeking re-selection to the board in November but this represents no change in my plans. It cannot be said that I am stepping down as such.

"The photograph is certainly not pornographic: it is an illustration of what a Prince Albert looks like, for those who want to see."

A councillor who displayed a photograph of his pierced penis on an internet site has been asked to stand down as a school governor.

Rayners Lane Liberal Democrat councillor Alastair Alexander has provoked the ire of fellow governors at Grimsdyke First and Middle Schools, who recently learned about the controversial photograph.

The photograph shows Mr Alexander's penis complete with a metal ring known as a Prince Albert.

So far it has only attracted objections from former councillor Herbert Crossman, who stood unsuccessfully against Mr Alexander at May's elections.

But the chairman of governors at Grimsdyke school, David Payne, recently wrote to Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Mary Graham and complained that the internet site "could be considered to border on pornographic".

Mr Payne went on in his letter: "I believe strongly that his behaviour and publication of this matter is not appropriate for a school governor.

"He is at present a LEA nominated school governor...and has by his action lost all credibility and respect of the governing body, teachers and parents. I personally believe that he is now totally unsuitable to be a school governor.

In a separate statement given on Tuesday, Mr Payne said his complaint was not politically motivated, but that he nevertheless sought Mr Alexander's resignation from the board.

In response Mr Alexander -- who set up security mechanisms around the offending photograph -- said he had been under the mistaken impression that was no longer a governor in any case.

"I had obviously believed that I was not a governor," he said. "I will not be seeking re-selection to the board in November but this represents no change in my plans. It cannot be said that I am stepping down as such.

"The photograph is certainly not pornographic: it is an illustration of what a Prince Albert looks like, for those who want to see."

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