BENEFIT cheat and Oxfordshire county councillor Olive McIntosh-Stedman has been expelled from the Labour Party.

Last month, McIntosh-Stedman, 65, who represents Cowley and Littlemore, was convicted of dishonestly claiming council tax benefit and immediately suspended from the party.

However, a committee terminated her membership indefinitely.

The charges against McIntosh-Stedman related to a council tax benefit form the former nurse completed in December 2002, in which she failed to declare the income she received from a monthly NHS pension.

She also failed to disclose a savings account and the member's allowance she received from County Hall.

Before the Oxford Crown Court trial, she quit the Oxford East Labour group to stand as an independent councillor. She continues to do so.

She is due to face the electorate again in 2009.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The party expects the highest standards of probity from all its members and in particular those who hold public office."

Being thrown out of the party does not bar McIntosh-Stedman - who is due to be sentenced on December 20 - from re-applying at any time.

However, a party insider added: "It would be up to her to re-apply for membership, but given what has happened I would not guarantee it would be successful."

McIntosh-Stedman was not available for comment.