City leader survives second no confidence vote

Karen Kilgour became Newcastle City Council's leader a year ago

A council leader has survived her second vote of no confidence in less than a year.

Newcastle City Council chief Karen Kilgour became the first woman to lead the authority last October.

The motion, brought by independent Marc Donnelly, cited concerns around "uncertainty" in the council following the loss of Labour's overall majority, after several councillors quit the party.

It was backed by just seven councillors – with 31 voting against and 19 abstaining. At the vote, Kilgour said it was the "honour" of her life to serve as leader.

Donnelly had urged the Liberal Democrats, who make up the largest opposition group with 22 councillors, to back the vote, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"We believe that the leader no longer commands the confidence of the chamber," he said.

But Liberal Democrat leader Colin Ferguson said that backing the motion would not be in the best interest of Newcastle.

He said if the motion passed, the local authority would be leaderless for a month.

Ferguson said the party did not have confidence in Labour but the motion would not lead to a "council plan or a balanced budget".

"I am a faithful supporter of this city, I will always put the interest of Newcastle first before myself - I can do nothing else," he said. "These are problems that can only be resolved at the ballot box."

The next local elections in the city are in May.

'A fantasy'

At the vote, Kilgour said her administration had "achieved much to be proud of" such as obtaining funding for the Tyne Bridge repairs.

She also attacked those who had put forward the motion.

"Do they truly believe that the five opposition groups and six independent members could suddenly unite under one leader just months before all-out elections?" she said.

"That is a fantasy."

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