Council 'could have acted sooner' in bullying row

Nick Kemp resigned as Newcastle City Council leader after the bullying allegation - which he has always denied - was made

Council bosses could have acted sooner to deal with bullying concerns around its former leader, an investigation has found.

Newcastle City Council confirmed Nick Kemp had been cleared of breaching its code of conduct in his treatment of Michelle Percy, who made a complain when she worked as director of investment and growth. He has always denied the bullying allegation.

Law firm Bevan Brittan LLP, which was commissioned to look into the complaint, concluded "more could have been done" to "defuse the situation".

The council said it was "not appropriate to provide a commentary" on the report but pledged to instigate a broader culture inquiry. Ms Percy has been approached for comment.

Seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the report concluded Kemp did not breach the council's code of conduct, in the context of the "enhanced protection" under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to freedom of expression in a political context.

However, it said the judgement "is not to be taken as a finding that the councillor's behaviour was always acceptable" and that he "could certainly have conducted himself in a less confrontational and aggressive manner at times".

It goes on to say there is "no doubt that the complainant has felt distressed, upset, and undermined".

"If there had been earlier intervention, and efforts to mediate, these may have acted to defuse the situation and avoid the matter reaching the point it did," the report adds.

Kemp resigned as leader days after the LDRS reported that he was the subject of a bullying complaint last September.

The Byker councillor, who later quit the Labour Party to represent the East End and Associates Independents, consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Percy left her role in the summer.

'Tense atmosphere'

Bevan Brittan assessed a series of allegations between June 2023 and August 2024 involving disagreements on matters such as traffic schemes in Jesmond, the regeneration of the city centre and council budget savings.

Ms Percy alleged the incidents created "a hostile, toxic and intimidating environment".

Investigators said Kemp sometimes acted in an "unreasonable" manner which "created a tense atmosphere".

However, they found no evidence to suggest he engaged in personal attacks and said he was "entitled to express his discontent" about how services were being delivered.

Ms Percy claimed to have raised issues repeatedly with the Labour-led council but said there was "rarely any feedback".

The council said it had spoken to Kemp about his behaviour, but he stated he was not aware anyone had considered his conduct inappropriate.

Kemp, who also runs his own public affairs consultancy, said confirmation he had not breached the code of conduct was received "with no sense of jubilation or triumph", and that the allegations "have cost my family, my friends and my business dearly".

He added: "They damaged me politically, professionally and personally. Notwithstanding the above, I now have the opportunity to rebuild and refocus."

Ms Percy has been approached for comment by the LDRS.

The city council said on Monday it looked forward "to understanding what, if any, improvements can be made" once its wider culture review was completed.