A power struggle within Newcastle’s Labour Party has taken a new twist – with the city’s council leader facing a challenge just a year into his reign.
Nick Kemp will have to fight off competition to keep his place at the head of the local authority after next week’s elections, with confirmation that Kenton councillor Ged Bell has triggered a leadership contest against him. It is just over 12 months since Coun Kemp seized power at the civic centre, winning control after former leader and long-time rival Nick Forbes was dramatically deselected.
Coun Bell was a prominent member of Mr Forbes’ administration and is seen as one of the heavy hitters remaining in that faction of Newcastle’s ruling party. The retired firefighter told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday that he had been asked by several other councillors to put himself forward to challenge Coun Kemp in a leadership election due to be held in May.
