LABOUR is facing anger among councillors in the north-east of England after party officials intervened in the election of a leader and deputy leader of Sunderland Council.

Labour councillors were due to meet to elect a leader and deputy on May 2 but were told by email that the meeting was cancelled and that party officials would be interviewing and vetting candidates.

The email said that Sunderland’s Labour group had been put under the party’s “campaign improvement board” — a scheme set up to “support Labour groups that require improvement.”

It said the decision had been made by Labour’s ruling national executive committee and signed off by its general secretary, David Evans.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Sunderland Labour group was put on a campaign improvement board in 2022.

“Group members have demonstrated a clear passion to deliver for Sunderland and the purpose of the CIB is to support this aim.

“We will not be commenting further while the process is ongoing.”