SIX Labour councillors on a council in England, including its former leader, have switched to become independents.
Newcastle City Council now has 39 Labour seats out of a total of 78, meaning Labour has lost overall control of the local authority.
Nick Kemp, who stepped down from the leadership role in September after being accused of bullying, and five others from the East End of the city, have switched their allegiance and now appear on the council website as independents.
Kemp has been approached for comment.
We previously told how in April, twenty councillors in Lancashire resigned their Labour memberships in protest over the party’s leadership.
And in June, seven councillors from Slough quit the Labour Party citing "profound disillusionment and anger" over its treatment of both Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen as well as the party's stance on the war in Gaza.
A Labour Party source said the Newcastle councillors who have switched were elected as Labour candidates.
“They should have the courage of their convictions, call by-elections and contest them as independents,” the source said.
Former North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll predicted more Labour councillors will resign.
On X, he wrote: “Labour have just lost control of Newcastle City Council, with 6 councillors resigning and becoming independents.
“I expect more will follow.
“I’ll be supporting a progressive alliance in the next elections.”
