Councillor Claire Darke kicked out of group

The councillor whose resignation from Wolverhampton's ruling coalition has thrown its administration into chaos has been kicked out of the city's Liberal Democrat group.

Claire Darke has also been ordered to hand back her keys to the Lib Dem office in the Civic Centre following her sudden resignation as schools chief.

After having her party whip taken from her she will no longer sit with other members of the party during council meetings.

The decision was made as councillors in the Tory and Lib Dem parties try to salvage their coalition, despite now having one vote fewer than Labour.

Councillor Darke will still remain a serving member of the Liberal Democrats, even though her ties have been severed with the city group.

Lib Dem councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, Wolverhampton's mayor, said today: "Councillor Darke has been removed from Wolverhampton's Liberal Democrats council group.

"Councillor Mike Heap wrote to her outlining the reasons why, as she was not prepared to vote in line with other members.

"The council group believed this was the only course of action open to them after Councillor Darke resigned from her cabinet post and the coalition."

Despite a statement by the minority party at the weekend declaring its alliance with the Tories had ended, four out of five of its councillors are prepared to continue the pact when the full council meets tonight.

Legal advice is being sought about what happens to control of the council.

Councillor Heap insisted he was not responsible for the statement on Saturday that announced the end of the coalition.

Councillor Darke's resignation gives the controlling coalition 29 councillors compared to the opposition Labour group's 30.

Before she stood down a deadlock could have been broken with the casting vote of Councillor Gwinnett.

He added a party "facilitator" had been brought in to help the Lib Dems as Labour prepares to seize control.