Nick Kemp’s successor as Newcastle City Council leader is expected to be chosen next week.
The long-serving Byker councillor quit as leader of the city’s Labour group and the council last week, amid a controversy surrounding bullying claims.
It came after the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed how he was the subject of a bullying complaint from one of the civic centre’s most senior officers, director of investment and growth Michelle Percy.
Labour councillors are now due to elect a new group leader at a party meeting next Monday 30 September, the latest episode in a long-running power struggle between warring factions for control of the city’s ruling party.
That person would then be formally installed as leader of the local authority at the next full meeting of the city council, which is two days later on Wednesday 2 October.
The split within the Labour group was again made clear last Friday, when Cllr Kemp accused some fellow councillors of acting “against the interests” of the city in his resignation statement.
The question of who will replace him as leader has been a hot topic of discussion among attendees at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool.
Cllr Kemp’s deputy, Karen Kilgour, is performing his former duties in an interim capacity following his resignation and is seen as a likely candidate for the role on a full-time basis.
She has been second-in-command within the council’s political leadership since May 2021, having initially risen to the role in the final year of Nick Forbes’ administration after she defeated his long-standing deputy Joyce McCarty in a party vote.
The West Fenham ward councillor, who has been on the council for 10 years, continued as deputy to Cllr Kemp following his ascension to the top job in 2022 and has held responsibility for health and anti-poverty plans in her cabinet portfolio.
Another possible name in the frame is that of Dan Greenhough, the Denton and Westerhope councillor who challenged Cllr Kemp for the leadership earlier this year.
Cllr Greenhough came within a whisker of victory in May, losing by 23 votes to 21 after being put forward to challenge Cllr Kemp in a leadership election.
Heaton councillor Clare Penny-Evans was Cllr Kemp’s main challenger to take over following Mr Forbes’ departure, but has recently been named as the new deputy police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Northumbria, while Wingrove’s Irim Ali also stood for the position in 2022 and went on to serve in Cllr Kemp’s cabinet.
Ged Bell, a member of the old guard who was one of the most prominent members of Mr Forbes’ administration, had sought to challenge Cllr Kemp for the leadership in 2023 but withdrew from contention before a vote was held.
Independent councillor Habib Rahman emphasised the need for a woman of colour in leadership.
“The prospect of a woman of colour, particularly a Muslim woman, leading the Labour Group represents an opportunity for progress.
“Electing Irim Ali could inspire a new generation of women — especially women of colour — to engage in politics and leadership. However, it is disheartening to acknowledge that the current Labour Group and Newcastle City Council are not prepared to take this step.”
In a statement issued following his resignation as leader on Friday, 55-year-old Nick Kemp said that he “strenuously” denies the bullying allegation against him.
The city council is yet to confirm whether there will be a formal investigation launched into Ms Percy’s complaint against Cllr Kemp.
Cllr Kilgour said on Friday: “I would like to thank Cllr Kemp for all his hard work during his time as Leader of Council. We will not be commenting further while there is an ongoing council process.”
