Labour suspends councillor 'over online posts on abuse'

A NOTTINGHAM Labour councillor has been suspended less than two months after one of his colleagues was also punished by the local party.

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

Divisions continue in the group of Labour councillors running Nottingham City Council over the way decisions are being made.

One Labour source said there is a hard division between those on the left and right of the party and the atmosphere has become “toxic”.

Councillor AJ Matsiko, a Labour councillor in Sherwood, previously described being shouted and sworn at by party officials during a meeting.

Councillor Matsiko has now accused Nottingham Labour of “mistreatment” after he was suspended by the group for six months.

The Post understands the decision was confirmed on Thursday and was about the issue of Facebook posts shared by Councillor Matsiko about the meeting at which he was allegedly sworn at.

The suspension means Councillor Matsiko will not be able to have any say in the group for the next six months.

In a statement on his suspension, the councillor again raised the “personal aggression” he says he faced from Labour Party officials at the meeting.