Councillor loses seat after six-month no show

A councillor expelled from Reform UK following allegations he made online comments saying he wished to shoot the then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has lost his seat.

John Allen, who represented the Hirst ward on Northumberland County Council, was kicked out of the party last year after an internal investigation into his conduct.

He continued on the council without a party affiliation. The authority said Allen had lost his seat after failing to attend a single meeting in the past six months. His details have been removed from the council's website.

A by-election is expected to take place by 8 October, the council said. The BBC has been unable to contact Allen.

Allen never commented on the allegations, which were made following an investigation by anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate.

The Conservatives remain the largest party on the council with 28 seats - up two from the election after winning Cramlington South West from Reform in a by-election and independent councillor Scott Lee's defection.

Reform, which won 23 seats at the last election, remain the official opposition on 18 after three councillors were expelled, councillor Shaun Knowles resigned due to ill health and Amble councillor Arty Hume passed away, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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