A CALL has been made for a former Labour councillor to stand down following his expulsion from the party.

Middlesbrough councillor Terry Lawton is being urged to resign so that a by-election can be called.

Mayor Dave Budd has made the plea ahead of a Full Council meeting on Wednesday night when Cllr Lawton will be able to take his place in the chamber as an independent member.

The mayor said Cllr Lawton’s current position is untenable and urged him to give the people of Brambles and Thorntree the chance to vote in a by-election.

He said: “His position is untenable and residents are being cheated out of their democratic right to choose their elected representatives on this council.”

Cllr Lawton remains as a councillor but sits as an independent member following the decision to expel him by the Labour Party’s head office. He said: “I am happy to stand down and let the public decide, if he does exactly the same thing.”