A NEW leader for the Northumberland Labour Group will need to be elected following a major blow in the 2021 county council elections.

The group’s leader Susan Dungworth lost her seat in Hartley in the most dramatic of fashion, with the outcome of the vote decided by a rare ballot box draw.

The terms of the draw mean that, if two or more candidates receive the exact same number of votes, their names are put in the ballot box and the name pulled out of the box is declared the winner.

The names Susan Dungworth and Tory candidate David Ferguson were put into the box after receiving 868 votes each, but it was Coun. Ferguson’s name pulled out and he will now serve the ward for the next four years.

Labour’s deputy leader Scott Dickinson retained his seat in Druridge Bay, and will serve as the party’s acting leader.

Coun. Dickinson said: “My heart goes out to all Labour councillors they have devoted daily life and energy to local people and worked with us to consistently hold the council leadership to account.

“As acting leader this is something I will continue to do with the councillors elected.

“I am excited with many of the seats we won back in like Bedlington, Prudhoe and Bywell showing that Labour can win in the West, North and South East.”