The leader of a scandal-hit council compared to North Korea has been deposed after a vote of no confidence at a fiery meeting.

A confidence motion on the leader of Northumberland Council, Cllr Peter Jackson, was lost by just one vote.

Cllr Wayne Daley, who resigned from the cabinet in the wake of chief executive Daljit Lally being put on ‘extended leave’ after emailing councillors with what were described as ‘whistleblowing concerns,’ said it was the ‘worst day of my life’ as he voted against his leader.

Councillors heard that 84 meetings had been cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic and claims that whistleblowers had been silenced.

Chair of the council’s audit committee, Cllr Georgina Hill, said: ‘Frankly, it’s all gone a little bit North Korea where allegiance to our dear leader seems to become more important than the public interest and it’s a bit more tin pot than it is transparent.’

Speaking before losing the vote, Cllr Jackson accused Cllr Hill of being ‘misleading’ and argued he was the victim of a ‘long-standing smear campaign’.

Cllr Jackson has described the whistleblowing allegations against him as ‘bunkum’ and has vowed to clear his name.

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