A Sunderland Councillor has been suspended from the Labour party pending investigation.
Councillor Paul Middleton, of Washington South ward, was internally suspended on June 15.
The decision was ratified at full council on June 20.
The Chairman of Sunderland Labour Party, Philip Tye, has confirmed the administrative suspension.
He said:
“This has been in place for a number of weeks and that remains the case pending an investigation by the party,”
“We wouldn’t try to hide from the fact that he has been suspended by the party.”
Cllr Middleton has now been listed as Independent on the Sunderland City Council website, and has been removed from several committees.
A council spokesman added:
“The city council is aware of the party suspension.”
He now awaits an investigation.