THE political fall-out from the mass de-selection of several senior members of a North-East council continues as the rift shows no sign of healing.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s Labour group have been dropped by the party in favour of a younger membership with fresh ideas, according to one of the panel members who helped make the decision.

Neil Bendelow, chairman of Redcar Constituency Labour Party, says that it was the party membership that wanted to make the changes and maintains it won’t derail the general election campaign.

However, council leader George Dunning, who was deselected on Sunday, maintains the rift has been created by interference from the office of Labour’s Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop.

“This was all about democracy,” said Mr Bendelow. “In some wards we have had eight candidates fighting for three nominations and the people selected are the ones who local members believe are the way forward.

“The people made the decision. They felt it was time for change and there are some excellent candidates who are full of ideas and really came across well.

“We have followed Labour’s rules and we are going to have people representing Redcar and Cleveland in a way they deserve to be represented.

“It isn’t ideal that so many changes have been made so close to the election but it is what local members wanted and we don’t believe it will affect the general election campaign.”

However, Cllr Dunning says there is a small number of Labour party members creating the rift, including Redcar and Cleveland councillors Dale Quigley (Kirkleatham) and Joe Keenan (Guisborough), who are staff in the office of Mr Blenkinsop.

Cllr Dunning says he hasn’t given up on the hope to stand as a Labour candidate and is considering trying to secure selection for one of the less winnable wards in the borough.

The council leader is not planning on standing down from his role and has continually supported other councillors who failed in their bid to be selected, including several cabinet members.

“The process isn’t finished,” he said. “There are other wards that are available, they are the ones that are the least winnable but I’m considering my position.

“The root of the problems is Tom Blenkinsop’s office trying to influence what the council does and we wouldn’t let them. That issue is still going to be there regardless of whether I decide to stand for selection or not.”

The other councillors who were not reselected by the party were the deputy leader Sheelagh Clarke; the chairman of Cleveland Fire Authority, Councillor Brian Briggs; chairman of the council’s planning committee, Councillor Brian Hogg; member of the cabinet for corporate resources, Councillor Norman Pickthall, and the fifth councillor is serving mayor, Carole Simms.

However, Cllr Simms won her appeal and can seek to apply for reselection as a Labour candidate.