Newcastle Council leader survives second vote of no confidence
The leader of Newcastle City Council has survived a second attempt to oust her from her position in under a year. Coun Karen Kilgour faced a vote of no confidence at a marathon meeting of the council on Wednesday, but the motion was comfortably defeated after Liberal Democrat councillors chose to abstain.
Following a lengthy debate, the motion – brought by Independent councillor Marc Donnelly- was backed by just seven councillors, with 31 voting against. Nineteen councillors abstained from the vote.
Coun Kilgour was installed as leader in October 2024, but faced an attempt led by the Lib Dems just two months later. That motion was defeated by 37 votes to 30.
After comments from Lib Dem leader Coun Colin Ferguson on Tuesday indicating he was unlikely to back the attempted coup, Coun Donnelly urged the opposition to back his motion. He said: “In this chamber back in December, a motion was brought by the Liberal Democrats to remove the leader of the council.
“It cited chaos and claimed that there was no clear mandate to govern, and asserted that the administration was not listening to residents. What has changed since then?
“Time and time again, the administration has demonstrated it doesn’t listen. The leader of the Liberal Democrats now claims he doesn’t understand why this is being brought now – he insists we must follow process, yet two months in he led a vote of no confidence.
“We believe that the leader no longer commands the confidence of the chamber. The leader cannot remain in post without a clear mandate from this chamber.”
The motion noted that he council has had no overall control since Coun Kemp and his colleagues quit in November last year leaving the council facing “uncertainty”. The administration is also criticised for failing to “secure support for a renewed council plan”, as well as coming under fire for two controversies around a waste incinerator contract and offensive remarks made about members of the public.
There was also criticism after a “confidential internal process” was twice leaked to the press. But Coun Kilgour hit back at the criticism and branded the attempted coup a “fantasy” and pointed to successes over the past year, including the securing of funding for the Tyne Bridge and progress on the Forth Yards development.
She said: “It is the honour of my life to serve as leader of the council. I take my role and my responsibility very seriously.
“I’m afraid I can’t see the same sincerity in the motivation for this motion. This month marks my administration’s first year in office and we have achieved much to be proud of.
“There has been real delivery and real results. Coun Donnelly said I don’t have a mandate – he is wrong. I was elected in this chamber which was endorsed when the last attempted vote of no confidence fell.
“It is unclear what the movers of this motion hope to achieve. Even if the motion is passed, Labour would still be the largest group and I would still be the group’s leader.
“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? That is a fantasy.”
Coun Ferguson echoed the comments he made on Tuesday and said he believed backing the motion would not be in the best interest of Newcastle.
He said: “The Labour administration is showing fatigue and a lack of direction after 15 years in charge. Losing votes was to be expected after losing overall control.
“What does this motion seek to do? If it passes, we will be leaderless for a month.
“The route to do this is with the support of the electorate. It is clear there’s no route here.
“I only wish polling day was tomorrow. Do we have any confidence in Labour? NO, but this motion won’t deliver 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. These are problems that can only be resolved at the ballot box.”
Speaking after the meeting, a Labour Group spokesperson said: “Tonight’s vote is a clear rejection of division and disruption. By defeating the motion of no confidence, councillors have confirmed their support for stability and delivery.
“The leader and deputy leader will continue to provide the strong, stable leadership our city needs as we press ahead with delivering for residents and working across the chamber in the interests of Newcastle.”