A COUNCILLOR who has been suspended from the Labour party has written to Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd calling for his resignation.

Terry Lawton, councillor for Brambles and Thorntree, was suspended after comments he made on his personal Facebook pages.

That followed a campaign and protest march he led, in which he was critical of the council’s ruling Labour group, to save the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. He raised concerns that the council had left its closure as an option in a review.

In his letter to the Mayor, he said: “It is with great regret that I am asking Mr Budd to resign immediately from the position of Mayor of Middlesbrough, and request an immediate election for a new Mayor.

“Mayor Budd’s policies do not have the backing of the people of Middlesbrough, and as a result I believe we are all losing our traditional supporter base.

“I truly believe Middlesbrough will be better served by a new and more capable Mayor, indeed, a Mayor who sees the real value and importance of developing the more rundown and derelict areas of Middlesbrough, and maintaining the few green areas for residents to use in their leisure time, rather than destroying those few beauty spots.”

He also raised concerns about the future of the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum and the fact that an office block was going to be built on the edge of Centre Square in the town, when “there are so many vacant offices already around the town”.

Mr Budd told The Northern Echo: "I don't recognise the picture that Cllr Lawton portrays. 

"He has had numerous explanations but seems unable to comprehend them."