Council opposition plans motion to oust Labour

A no-confidence motion to remove Peterborough's Labour administration from power would be put forward on 18 June, a city councillor said.

The leader of the Peterborough First group, Chris Harper, said he intended to do it at the next full council meeting, adding a coalition with the Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups was nearly agreed.

Harper said discussions were also taking place with independent councillors, whose votes could make all the difference.

"Things are going extremely well," he said. The Labour Party called the move a "politically motivated back-room plot".

The Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups have been asked to comment.

Dennis Jones has been leader of the council since last May when Labour won the most seats to form a minority administration.

Before last year's election the council was run by Peterborough First - largely made up of Conservative defectors - after the group ousted Tory leader Wayne Fitzgerald.

The move was backed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Harper, who took over as Peterborough First's leader in May, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the takeover plans could not be put forward at the last full council meeting on 19 May due to constitutional reasons.

"We're discussing our joint coalition agreement at the moment which is going through the groups to make sure everyone is happy to sign off on it, but it's very positive and most people seem very happy on that," he said.

"Things are going extremely well. We are confident that we are nearly there now and we'll go for it. It will be up to the vote on the night."

The current make-up of the council includes 17 Labour councillors, 13 from Peterborough First, 11 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, six independents and five Green Party members.

Council leader Jones said he was "incredibly proud" of the work Peterborough Labour had done so far.

"While it is true that financial pressures remain for Peterborough City Council, and councils across the UK, our Labour administration remains committed to rebuilding the foundations of our council, delivering high quality services and protecting taxpayers' money," he said.

"That Peterborough First, and other parties, would choose this point to call a vote of no confidence shows that they care more about political point-scoring than they do about delivering for Peterborough residents. Their actions do nothing but risk throwing Peterborough back into instability and chaos.

"Having risked bankruptcy by refusing to back a budget for the council this year, despite not putting forward any alternative ideas, it is clear that Peterborough First have no real plan for our city and are playing games with this politically motivated back-room plot."

Fitzgerald, who leads the Conservative group, added the move was about "power" and "selfish ambition".

"I personally won't be supporting any vote of no confidence, and as for my other Conservative members they will decide in due course."

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.