Labour has lost its majority on a key council after six councillors quit the party to become independents.
The exodus at Newcastle City Council leaves Labour with 39 of the 78 seats – meaning it has lost overall control of the local authority.
The six councillors who have switched to become independents include Nick Kemp who stood down as leader in September over bullying accusations, which he denied.
Mr Kemp was joined by John Stokel-Walker, Marion Williams, Dave Wood, Margaret Wood and Stevie Wood.
Newcastle Conservatives said it was “becoming more and more clear that Labour in Newcastle are consuming themselves with infighting and controversy”.
There are now 11 independents on the council, 22 Lib Dems, three Newcastle Independents, two Greens, and one Tory.
A Labour Party source called on the six to step down as councillors and trigger by-elections.
They told Chronicle Live: “These councillors were all elected as Labour candidates.
“The people of Blakelaw, Byker, Walker, Walkergate elected them as Labour councillors.
“They should have the courage of their convictions, call by-elections and contest them as independents.”
Labour has had control of the council since 2011 when it took back power after seven years of the Liberal Democrats.
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “The council has been notified that six members have resigned from the Labour group and will now sit as independent councillors.
“These resignations do not affect the membership of the cabinet and the political leadership of the council remains the same. Council business will continue to operate as normal.”
