LABOUR in Oxford was plunged into turmoil on Sunday as the party withdrew from the ruling coalition on Oxfordshire County Council.

The move comes days after prominent left-wing black councillor Jabu Nala-Hartley was barred from running in next year’s Oxford City Council elections.

The so-called Fair Deal Alliance, struck with the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party after the county council elections in 2021 to end years of Tory rule, has been beset by disagreements over its delivery of special educational needs & disability (Send) services.