Newcastle’s new council leader has officially taken office and announced a major shake-up of the city’s decision-makers.
Nick Kemp was sworn in to the Labour -run local authority’s top post on Wednesday afternoon and has named the members of his new cabinet, with a number of stalwarts of the previous Nick Forbes administration now out of the top team Coun Forbes’ 11-year run as council leader was brought to an end following his dramatic deselection by party members in his Arthur’s Hill ward in February, after which he decided to step away from city politics rather than seek election to another seat at this month’s local elections.
The episode once again laid bare deep divides within Newcastle Labour, with Coun Kemp narrowly claiming the group’s leadership at a vote in March. The Byker councillor, who has promised a “reset” at the civic centre, was formally named as leader of the council at its annual meeting, at which the membership of his seven-strong cabinet was also confirmed.
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