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THE newly-suspended leader of Durham County Council, Albert Nugent, summed it up succinctly: "We're in enough bother as it is without creating our own."

With support for Gordon Brown's government hitting a record low nationally, and the local elections going disastrously - even in North-East heartlands - the Labour Party is in turmoil, if not meltdown.

And now we have the leader of the North-East's biggest local authority suspended on the eve of a crucial leadership contest, along with four other councillors, in a row over women candidates.

Councillor Nugent takes the view that he has been "kicked in the teeth". Yet Labour Party sources insist that there is nothing sinister in the timing of the suspension, which has ruled Councillor Nugent out of the leadership battle.

Wherever the truth lies, there is no doubt that the timing looks dreadful.

Whether it is or it isn't, many will view it as a stitch-up.

As the proud county of Durham looks ahead to a period of historic change under a new unitary authority, it needs strong leadership and a clear sense of direction.

Instead, we are left with an authority which has not only lost a highly respected chief executive in Mark Lloyd, but also has controlling politicians behaving like headless chickens.

The bitterness and suspicion are certain to drag on for some time to come and whoever emerges as leader will have a huge job on their hands to establish a sense of unity.

9:43am Saturday 10th May 2008

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