Ex-council leader bullying claim probe announced

A full investigation is being launched into a bullying complaint made against a city council's former leader.

It comes just weeks after Nick Kemp resigned his role at Newcastle City Council in the wake of the complaint, which he denies.

Kemp and and five others subsequently quit the ruling Labour party, wiping out the party's majority.

Council officials have confirmed director Michelle Percy's complaint will be looked at by an external investigator.

An authority spokesperson confirmed "it will be for the investigator to decide how to carry out the investigation in accordance with the council’s protocol for dealing with complaints".

In a statement issued following his resignation as leader in September, Kemp said he was "firmly of the opinion there is no case to answer in this matter".

Kemp's replacement as leader, Karen Kilgour, is set to face a vote of no confidence which the Liberal Democrat opposition plans to call at a full council meeting on 4 December.

It will also hear a Lib Dem motion pushing for an independent inquiry to be launched into the council's political leadership.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported on concerns about the culture at the top of the civic centre and within Newcastle Labour over recent years.

Council chief executive Pam Smith refused to deny the presence of a "toxic" atmosphere and bullying in the administration when questioned in front of the audit committee in 2023.

Shortly after that, Labour's Jane Byrne quit the cabinet and accused officers of “undermining” the council.

Ex-Labour councillors John-Paul Stephenson, Shumel Rahman and Habib Rahman have also all cited alleged bullying within the party over the last 18 months.

Kemp has been approached for further comment.

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