A COUNCIL leader has issued a "back me or sack me" challenge to rebels who defeated controversial plans to close care homes.

Durham County Council's leader, Ken Manton, is calling for a leadership election and is understood to have told councillors that if he is returned, the council will try again to close its remaining nine residential care homes.

The Labour leadership was defeated on the issue by one vote last month in a group meeting behind closed doors.

Councillor Manton warned his colleagues that he would consider his position if the vote went against him, but backbench councillors defied him and signalled their wish to keep the homes open.

In a leaked e-mail to Labour councillors, he said he is asking group officials to start nomination and election procedures at the group's annual meeting in May.

He said: "I would suggest that (the) two most significant implications of this proposal are:

"Firstly, this could legitimately be portrayed as being normal democratic practice within the party, thereby avoiding any unnecessary bad publicity of the kind 'leader resigns' etc.

"Secondly, it would make explicit to group members my intention (subject to re-election) to address, in due course, the issue of the council being a direct provider of residential homes and the financial implications of that policy (£1.5m for repairs on the existing nine homes and an estimated £30m capital to upgrade or rebuild them)."

Coun Manton, who has been in post for about five years, could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

John Shuttleworth, the Independent councillor for Weardale, who joined unions, carers and home residents on two high-profile protests against the closure, said the fight would resume if closure was threatened again.

He said: "Democracy is alive and well in County Durham?

"Here we have another meeting behind closed doors and the public will be the last to know what is decided about something that will have a big impact on the lives of elderly and vulnerable people. Coun Manton is trying to overturn a decision he does not like. It was decided democratically and he should abide by it."

Paul Thompson, of the council's Unison branch, which fought the closures with the GMB union, said if the plans were re-tabled, they would be opposed.

He said: "There are no positive arguments put forward for ending in-house residential care provision in County Durham."