Harrow's Labour leader says the way some of the group’s members have been treated is “utterly disgraceful”.

The comments come from a statement leader of the Labour group David Perry attempted to read out at the annual mayor making ceremony last night.

He was stopped from finishing his statement, which announced the group would not be taking part in the meeting, by the outgoing mayor Nizam Ismail.

The statement is the result of a major political rift in the former ruling Labour group which led to the formation of the Independent Labour group, which is now in control of the council's cabinet.

Councillor Perry said: “It is with huge sadness that I rise in order to make the following non-political statement, not to full council, but to the people of Harrow.”

He said the decision not to take part in the meeting had not “been taken lightly, and it is out of respect for the people of Harrow that we have taken this stance.”

He added: “As a group we have grave concerns over the conduct of some of the councillors on this council over the past few weeks.

“The way in which the Labour group, and some of our most loyal, trusted and respected members have been treated, is utterly disgraceful.

“We hope you understand our actions, because as a group we have all personally been subjected to false, unfounded, poisonous and negative accusations made against our individual and collective integrities.

“These accusations have been made by the recently formed ‘Independent’ group on Harrow Council, of which both the sitting mayor and proposed mayor are senior members.

“This is something we cannot ignore, and nor will we.”

The statement, made on behalf of the entire Labour group end by saying: “In politics, debate, discussion, argument and difference of opinion often occur in the pursuit of worthy causes.

“But when the conduct of some councillors, who are elected to serve the people, do not uphold the highest standards, we in the Labour group feel it is our duty to take this necessary action in order for the people of Harrow to know the truth.”