LABOUR has given the Mayor of Doncaster an ultimatum over his plans to set up his own political party.
Ray Kennedy, the party's director of finance and compliance in London, has sent Martin Winter a letter telling him he has 14 days to register with the party or he could face action.
Labour said in a statement: "It has come to our attention that Ma
rtin Winter and two other Labour councillors have registered as members of a separate political group. This is therefore a clear breach of party rules.
"The Labour Party have given all three members involved 14 days to re-register as a member of the recognised Labour group. If they fail to do so, they are automatically considered to have excluded themselves from party membership."
Mr Winter was expecting a phone call this week to discuss the situation.
He registered a new party with cabinet allies Coun Stuart Exelby and Coun Eva Hughes, both elected under the Labour banner, with Doncaster Council managing director Paul Hart last week.
It is understood they registered the name The Labour Group.
The borough Labour party immediately referred the matter the national organisation.
John Curry, Mr Winter's political assistant, said the mayor would not comment about the issue until the meeting of the council's Labour group, scheduled for Wednesday.
He is expected to have to confront the issue on Wednesday, when the first cabinet meeting since this month's council elections is due to be held.
Mr Winter had previously approached councillors from outside the Labour Party about the possibility of creating a cross-party ruling cabinet and had held talks with senior figures from other parties.
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