Opposition councillors in Newcastle have tabled a motion of no confidence in council leader Karen Kilgour – with former leader Nick Kemp among the signatories. The motion, which could see the leader removed from office, will be debated at Wednesday’s city council meeting.
It is the second time Cllr Kilgour has faced a challenge to her leadership since taking office last October. In December, a Liberal Democrat attempt to oust her failed by 37 votes to 30.
Cllr Kilgour became the first woman to lead the council when she took over from Cllr Kemp. However, her position came under threat after Cllr Kemp and five other councillors dramatically quit the Labour Party to become independents last year.
This time around, the motion has been brought by Independent councillor Marc Donnelly. Fellow Independents Margaret Donnelly and Lawrence Hunter are signatories to the motion, alongside Newcastle Independents Adam Mitchell and Tracey Mitchell, and East End and Associates councillors John Stokel-Walker, Nick Kemp and Stevie Wood.
It notes that the council has had no overall control since Cllr Kemp and his colleagues quit in November last year, leaving the council facing “uncertainty”. The administration is also criticised for failing to “secure support for a renewed council plan”, as well as coming under fire for two controversies around a waste incinerator contract, and offensive remarks made about members of the public.
Responding to the motion, the council’s deputy leader Cllr Alex Hay said: “We are getting on with the job of running the council. We will not be knocked off course by political games from a small group of opposition councillors.”
Labour currently have 37 councillors, two short of a majority, with the Lib-Dems the largest opposition group with 22. No Liberal Democrats have signed the motion, but leader Colin Ferguson said he would listen to both sides of the argument.
Cllr Ferguson said: “I don’t know what they’re trying. I will be listening to the arguments and what they expect to happen next.
“It isn’t clear to me what the movers of this motion are hoping to achieve in the long run by bringing it forward. Does anybody love what Labour is doing nationally and locally? No.
“Are we ready for a change? Absolutely. But the political effect is we wouldn’t be able to appoint a new leader until November and we would likely have a new candidate from Labour. Are we likely to see any change?
“The only way this is going to be resolved is at the ballot box in May. I make no secret of my desire to be leader of the council, but I will do it the right way.”
